Comparative analysis of the EU environmental policy with the international development agendas: A content analysis of the council conclusions between 2015-2020

Abstract

The European Union remains to exist as a unique regional integration initiative. Its uniqueness is not only due to its cultural characteristics. One of the main qualities that makes it special is its power to set or direct international agendas. At the top of most vital issues of today - the impact of which can now be seen in daily life at any time - is the environmental issue. The EU has shown its intention to lead in this matter as well. The Green Deal, which it recently launched, is one of the most important proofs of it. However, this intention will have no meaning as long as it is on paper. The way to evaluate it is to first examine the regular work of policy makers, and then evaluate the success of their practices. For this purpose, this research will examine both how the environmental issue is handled in the Council of the European Union conclusions and the environmental performance of the European Union within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals. Thus, it may be possible to see whether the environmental policy of the European Union has developed in line with the international agendas it pioneered. Also, to a certain extent, an answer may be given to the question of whether the European Union's environmental policy, which is one of the main debates in the literature on the European Union environmental policy, basically has an internal or an external nature.