Greening the EU and the Rule of Law: Reflections on Opportunities and Limits of the EU's Legal Powers

This chapter distils the key insights from Greening the EU and the Rule of Law — Opportunities and Limits of the EU’s Legal Powers, edited by M. Eliantonio, K. Kulovesi, M. Peeters, and A. Savaresi (Edward Elgar, 2026). The volume examines the European Green Deal through the prism of the rule of law, exploring how environmental ambitions intersect with legal principles and institutional limits.

As the concluding chapter, it reflects on how the Green Deal has both challenged and reaffirmed the role of the rule of law within the EU acquis. It sheds light on the complex legal dynamics at play — including constitutional constraints, the use of delegated powers, market-based regulatory tools, and enforcement challenges. It also considers the EU’s efforts to extend its regulatory influence beyond its borders, underscoring the importance of coherence between internal and external action.

A recurring theme is that, although the Green Deal has introduced innovative legal instruments to advance environmental objectives, its legitimacy and effectiveness ultimately depend on respect for rule of law values. Realising these values in practice requires not only meaningful access to justice, but also continued scholarly scrutiny. This chapter identifies key areas for further research and stresses that this volume represents only the beginning of a broader legal and academic dialogue on the Green Deal’s implementation.