Germany likes to see itself as a pioneer in environmental protection. However, in the implementation of European environmental requirements, Berlin is in no way an example. The European Commission filed lawsuits in 16 cases against the government, because it does not conform with environmental requirements or because it does so too late. In some cases, the government hopes to solve the issues through amendments to the law, in others the proceedings amount to confrontations with the European Court of Justice. Germany especially has difficulties with air and water pollution prevention as well as nature conservation. In addition, the requirements of the Aarhus Convention, which facilitates access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters, have only insufficiently been implemented.
