The aim of this course is to provide students with the basic understanding, principles, tools, institutions and procedures of environmental law, using case-studies and focusing on implementation issues in order to familiarize students with this particular branch of law. Additionally, the aim of the course ENVIRONMENTAL AND TECHNICAL LEGISLATION is to provide students with the basic understanding, principles and procedures of awarding public works execution.

Specific attention is given to the interdisciplinary character of environmental law as well as its dependence of technology.

Upon successful completion of this course the students will acquire new knowledge and specific skills on the following subjects:

• Will gain a basic understanding of the concepts, principles, procedures and tools of environmental law.
• Will have a general understanding of environmental law levels (international, EU and national).
• Will be able to distinguish between environmental legislation and environmental case-law and develop a general understanding of the effect of the latter on the former, using case studies and specifically representative environmental cases.
• Will gain a basic knowledge of international and EU environmental legislation and institutions.
• Will gain a basic knowledge regarding the constitutional protection of the environment in Greece (article 24 of the Hellenic Constitution).
• Will be capable to understand the concept and characteristics of the right to the environment as well as the special features of environmental trial via representative environmental cases.
• Will gain a basic knowledge of domestic common environmental legislation and especially of Act 1650/1986.
• Will be capable to understand administrative and environmental licensing, the relevant stages as well as the environmental impact assessment process.
• Will gain a basic knowledge of environmental protection procedures with emphasis on environmental impact assessment procedure, principles and tools. 
• Will be able to distinguish between environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental impact assessment.
• Will be able to acquire the necessary background as regards the environmental impact assessment case-law.
• Will be capable to understand the administrative organization of environmental protection in Greece.
• Will be able to understand the interaction of International, EU and domestic legislation and case law, focusing on the case study of Renewable Energy Sources.
• Will be able to review, understand and study environmental legislation as well as environmental case-law via the use of a digital law database.
• Will have a general understanding of principles and procedures of awarding public works execution.
• Will gain a holistic approach as regards environmental and technical novel issues and consider them and their institutional implications.

• Review, analyse and synthesise of data and information supported by technological tools.
• Working in an interdisciplinary environment
• Capacity to criticize and self-knowledge
• Develop creative skills and autonomous thought and argument
• Appreciate diversity and multiculturality
• Protect natural and man-made environment
• Advance free, creative  and causative thinking

• Introduction to the legal system. Basic law classification. Elements of public, private law as well as European Union law. Introduction to the technical legislation (Public Works legislation). Procedures regarding the award and execution of Public Works. Legislative framework for the public procurement. Harmonization of Greek legislation to the EU directives. Law 4412/2016 and recent amendments. Award criteria. Execution of Public Works. Public Works dispute resolution procedures.
• International, EU and Greek environmental legislation. Main international environmental Conventions. Environmental protection in EU law. Principles of EU environmental law. EU primary law and the horizontal environmental directives (Access to Environmental Information, Integrated Prevention and Pollution Control). Case law of EU Court of Justice. Environmental protection in domestic law (Constitution and Ordinary law). Constitutional protection of the environment (article 24 of the Hellenic Constitution). Content and characteristics of the right to the environment. The environmental trial. Enlargement of “locus standi” (“ecological neighborhood”). The sustainable development (historical evolution- sustainable development in international, EU and domestic law-the case of Greek law). Environmental protection in ordinary law. The Greek Act 1650/1986 on the protection of the environment and other indicative environmental laws.
• The Courts’ role in environmental protection and sustainable development (environmental case law).  Case study “The Renewable Energy Sources (R.E.S.)”: interaction of International, EU and domestic legislation and case law.
• The administrative organization of the environmental protection in Greece. Pro­ce­dures for environmental licensing – Approval of Environmental Terms. Historical evolution (Act 1650/1986, Act 3010/2002, Act 4014/2011). EU directives on Envi­ronmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Asses­sment (SEA). Content, specifications and evaluation of envi­ron­mental studies. The case law of Hellenic Council of State and of EU Court of Justice for the environ­mental impact assessment.

Use of Information and Communication Technology

• Power point presentations
• E-class support
• Demonstration and use of digital law data base

Assessment Method

Ι. Written final examination (100%) comprising :

• Multiple choice reasoning /supported argument/ critical analysis.

Recommended Book Resources:

• Gl. Sioutis, Environmental Law, ISBN 978-960-568-850-9, (2018), Ed. Sakkoulas S.A.
• Ev. Koutoupa-Regakou, Environmental Protection Law, ISBN 978-960-445-372-6 (2008), Ed. Sakkoulas S.A.
• D. Vasiliadis, Ch. Divani, Th. Kanellopoulou, M. Kouskouna, A. Papetropoulos, Environmental Law. An overview of the Council of State Case Law ISBN: 978-960-654-472-9, (2021), Nomiki Bibliothiki
• E-A Maria, The legal protection of landscape in International, European Community and National Law,  ISBN: 9789601522982 (2010), Ant. Sakkoulas
• E-A Maria, Genetic resources in Environmental Law. Concept, regulatory framework and governance, ISBN: 978-960-654-351-7 (2021), Nomiki Bibliothiki
• Elizabeth Fisher, Bettina Lange, and Eloise Scotford, Environmental Law: Text, Cases & Materials, ISBN 978-0-19-927088-0 (2013), Oxford University Press
• Stuart Bell, Donald McGillivray, Ole Pedersen,  Emma Lees, Elen Stokes, Environmental Law, Ninth Edition, ISBN 9780198748328, (2017), Oxford University Press
• J.H. Jans and H.H.B. Vedder, European Environmental Law. After Lisbon (4th edition), ISBN 9789089521057 (2012), Europa Law Publishing
• Hans Christian Bugge (ed.) ; C. Voigt (ed.), Sustainable Development in International and National Law, ISBN 9789089520746 (2008), Europa Law Publishing.

Recommended Article/Paper Resources:

• Environment and Law, quarterly Environmental Law Review, ed. Nomiki Bibliothiki
• Law and Nature, e-journal of Environmental Law, site : www.nomosphysis.org.gr
• Journal of Environmental Law, Oxford University Press, Oxford Academic, online ISSN 1464-374X, Print ISSN 0952-8873, https://academic.oup.com/jel
• European Energy and Environmental Law Review, Kluwer Law Online, http://www.kluwerlawonline.com/toc.php?pubcode=EELR

Recommended Book Resources for Public Works Law:

• Ch. Mitkidis, Execution of Public Works, ISBN: 9789606221330, (2017), ed. Nomiki Bibliothiki