Visiting the European Institutions with the Students of the Diploma in Environmental Law
On 18 May 2026, I had the pleasure of accompanying the second-year students of the Diploma in Environmental Law (DE Droit de l’environnement) of the Université Catholique de Lyon to Brussels for a study visit dedicated to European environmental governance and the functioning of the EU institutions.
The visit took place within the framework of the Comparative Moot Court on Environmental Law (CMCEL), bringing together students from four European universities: the Université Catholique de Lyon, University College Dublin, Universität Münster and Universiteit Utrecht.
The morning session was hosted by the Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV) of the European Commission. Students presented the outcomes of the national moot court sessions to representatives of the Commission.
The discussions provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on the implementation of European environmental law and on the role played by the European Commission in ensuring compliance with EU environmental standards.
Students also attended a presentation on the role of the European Commission in the development and enforcement of environmental legislation within the European Union.
In the afternoon, the group visited the European Parliament, where students had the opportunity to discover the functioning of the institution and discuss the role of democratic representation within the European legislative process.
This visit once again highlighted the importance of connecting academic training with direct engagement with European institutions, allowing students to better understand the practical dimensions of European environmental governance and decision-making.