Historical Evolution of the “Greenisation” of European Governance: the definition and the approach of Environment from a European Union perspective

The European Union is the only region which has as its official objective the promotion of economic development, social cohesion and environmental protection at the same time. In fact, there is no other model in the world which brings together the three pillars of sustainability “as ensuring peace, transboundary peaceful cooperation and integration, democracy and elements of an open society, under the government of the rule of law” (Krämer, 2006, p. 555). Thus, this article sets out the historical evolution of the “greenisation” of European governance, in particular through the Europeans treaties (Part III). Nevertheless, before starting it is necessary to analyse in particular the definition of the term “Environment” which can be found within the European context (Part I) and then scrutinise which kind of approach, anthropocentric or ecocentric approach, the EU has adopted in the European Law (Part II).