Department of European, Public and International Law

Research Projects

Policy oriented research in the spotlight 

The Path Towards Addressing Adverse Impacts of Light and Noise Pollution on Terrestrial Biodiversity and Ecosystems, PLAN-B 2023-2027

Plan B

The PLAN-B is an interdisciplinary project aiming to mitigate the adverse effects of light and noise pollution on terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystems by advancing understanding, supporting reductions of their impacts, and promoting biodiversity restoration through regulatory, social, environmental, planning, and technological solutions, while also developing a framework, handbook, database, innovative strategies, policy recommendations, and Communities of Practice to achieve the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy and other environmental protection goals. This project is funded by the EU Commission: Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (2023-2027).
Link to the website: https://plan-b-project.eu/
Researchers: Yana Yakushina, Geert Van Hoorick, Hendrik Schoukens 
Promoter: Geert Van Hoorick

Integration of Environmental Law, 2021-2022

Description: This interdisciplinary project in which de CMER cooperates with the KULeuven Department of Architecture, aims at formulating strategies for a more integrated legislation on environment and land-use in the long term.  In Dutch it is called ‘Traject Integratie Regelgeving ruimte en milieu’. This project is funded by the Department of Environment of the Flemish Region (2021-2022).

Researcher: Geert Van Hoorick, Hendrik Schoukens, Tom De Waele
Promoter: Geert Van Hoorick, Hendrik Schoukens

Legal Protection of Ecosystems, 2020-2021

Legal protection of ecosystemsDescription: This legal research project aims at evaluating current nature conservation and wildlife legislation, analysing some innovative foreign legal instruments, and providing suggestions for a better long term protection of ecosystems. In Dutch it is called ‘Rechtsbescherming ecosystemen’. This project is funded by the Department of Environment of the Flemish Region (2020-2021).

Link to the report: https://omgeving.vlaanderen.be/rechtsbescherming-ecosystemen

Researcher: Geert Van Hoorick, Hendrik Schoukens
Promoter: Geert Van Hoorick

Main applied research projects

  • Ecology Clusters for Overall Waste Re-engineering in Flemish Sea­ports (ECOWARE, 1998 - 2000) - Life-Environment Program European Commission
  • MArine REsources Damage Assessment and Sustainable Management of the North Sea (MARE-DASM, 1998-2002 – DWTC (now: Belgian Science Policy – BELSPO)
  • Substitution of dangerous substances (1999-2000) - AMINAL
  • Policy analysis and proposals for optimising legal and social instruments for nature development projects (Flemish Impulse programme nature development - VLINA) (2000-2001)
  • Research on public support for nature conservation in Flanders, with UIA & Arteveldehogeschool Gent – Nature Department of Flemish government (2002-2004)
  • Training in environmental law for magistrates (2001-2002) – Department of Justice Belgium Justitie
  • Legislation project establishments emitting nuisances (2001-2003) – Department of Environment Flemish Region
  • Policy space for a national product policy (2001-2003) – Department of Science Belgium (POD Wetenschapsbeleid)
  • Legislation project for an integrated water act (2001-2003) - Department of Environment Flemish Region
  • Emission trading rights (2001 -2006) – Flemish government - Steunpunt Milieubeleidswetenschappen.
  • Elaboration and Implementation of a National Chemical Spill Contingency Plan for Latvia (NCSCP) (2002-2003) – Flemish Region
  • Implementation of European environmental law in Hungary (2001-2004) – Flemish government
  • Navigator environmental law (2001-2007) - VITO Flemish Region
  • Legislation project for an integrated nature conservation act (2001-2005) – Flemish government
  • Support center environmental sciences (2001-2006) – Flemish government
  • Law & Economics and enforcement of environmental law (2002-2004) – Department of Science Belgium (POD Wetenschapsbeleid)
  • Enviromental legislation for ports (2003-2004) – Department of Environment Flemish Region
  • The concept of ecological debt (2003-2004) - VLIR-BVO
  • Towards a Spatial Structure Plan for the Sustainable Management of the Sea (GAUFRE, 2003-2005) – DWTC (BELSPO)
  • Legal comparative study on financial compensation and taxes related to spatial planning (2004) – Department of Town and Country Planning Flemish Region
  • Area-based nature policy: operationalization and implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives (MIRA-be) – VMM (2004-2005)
  • Emissions of CO2, SO2 and Nox from ships (ECOSONOS, 2004-2006) - BELSPO
  • Audit of nuisance policy (2005) – Department of Environment Flemish Region
  • Development of an assessment framework for the policy related to selective waste streams (2006) – OVAM Flemish Region
  • Evaluation of climate change impacts and adaptation responses for marine activities (CLIMAR, 2007 – 2010) - BELSPO
  • Strategic Basic Research (SBO) project Environmental enforcement: a comparison of practice in the criminal and the administrative tracks (2007-2011) – IWT Flemish Region
  • Legal analysis of the concept of temporary nature in port areas (with law firm LDR) - Gemeentelijk havenbedrijf Antwerpen & NV Maatschappij voor Brugse Zeevaartinrichtingen (2007-2008).
  • An Ecosystem Approach in Sustainable Fisheries Management through Local Ecological Knowledge (LECOFISH, 2009 – 2011) - BELSPO.
  • Multidisciplinary Research Platform Biotechnology for a sustainable economy: WP Societal aspects of the carbon negative biobased economy (2010-2015) – Flemish Region
  • Legal support for the designation of marine protected areas in Belgian part of the North Sea (with law firm LDR) - FOD leefmilieu, Dienst Marien Milieu (2011-2012)
  • Archeological Heritage in the North Sea. Development of an efficient assessment methodology and approach towards a sustainable management policy and legal framework in Belgium (2012-2016) - IWT-SBO
  • Ocean Governance for Sustainability: Challenges, Options and the Role of Science (2015-2020) - EU COST-Action
  • Analysis of the federal law on the protection of the marine environment (with law firm Equal-Partners) - FOD leefmilieu, Dienst marine milieu (2019-2020).
  • Training in environmental law for the Department of Environment (2020) – Department of Environment Flemish Region
  • Legal protection of ecosystems (2020-2021) – Department of Environment Flemish Region
  • UNITED: multi-Use platforms and co-locatioN pilots boostIng cost-effecTive, and Ecofriendly and sustainable proDuction in marine environments (2020 – 2024) - H2020
  • Legal basis for the management of a transboundary nature park of the dunes between Dunkerque (France) and Westende (Belgium) (2021-22) – Flemish Region
  • Integration of environmental law (2021-22) – Department of Environment Flemish Region
  • LECSEA: research on local energy communities (2020-2022) - Interreg project
  • RENERGHETIC: research on local energy communities (2021-2023) - Horizon 2020 project
  • PLAN-B: The Path Towards Addressing Adverse Impacts of Light and Noise Pollution on Terrestrial Biodiversity and Ecosystems (2023-2027) - Horizon 2023 project