Our goal

The basic objective of ECO-COMM is to provide a source of information on European Union and Italian environmental law, by supplying the user the means necessary to:

• fulfill legal obligations,
• understand and analyse policies, guidelines, legislation at the Community as well as at the Italian level,
• interpret the principles affirmed by the EU Court of Justice and national Courts,
• access EC sources of financing through a constant and updated information on programs, notices, calls for tenders.

The study of the European Union case-law, legislation and policies in the field of environmental protection represents the focal point of our work. This choice is dictated by the broad range of competences referred to the Community Institutions in this field.

On the other hand, special attention will be paid to the Italian legislation, not only because our lawmakers are called upon to guarantee a steady assimilation of EU body of law, but also because - in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity among the various levels of government - the Member States still maintain in this area a number of competences (which find their expression, for example, in the authorization procedures).

A second objective we intend to achieve is that of creating a forum for discussion among the main 'actors' involved in environmental protection: from the ones called upon to formulate and carry out policies to the experts in the various disciplines, from the business world down to the individual citizen.

Why a site on environmental legislation?

We have chosen to develop a web site on environmental law after a careful evaluation of the advantages offered by the electronic media compared to more traditional means.
Particularly:

• the subject at hand is characterized by a substantial body of legislation. Internet represents the ideal mean to track down relevant documentation.
• Environmental law is an area subject to continuous change. Therefore, there is a need for up- to-date information on bureaucratic and legislative requirements.
• Compared to more traditional approaches, internet offers the possibility to establish a network of experts not only from the different disciplines (lawyers, economists, engineers, etc.), but also from different countries.
• Our site makes it possible both to supply a full range of environmental assistance (information, documentation, advisory and training) and a personalized service according to the different needs.

The area of the site

A synthesis of the main research options available follows:

• Forum: the aim of this section is that of opening a debate, between two or more experts, on a specific environmental issue. The themes discussed will be of juridical, economic and political nature and will be related to the Italian, EU and international realities. All users will be able to participate through a discussion forum.
• Environmental news: this area is devoted to the latest environmental news: workshops, conventions, courses, book reviews, front line news from Italy and Europe.
• Link pages: This section represents a tool for a full exploitation of the potential of internet. By clicking on the link pages the user will be immediately connected to:
  • the main Italian and foreign sites dealing with the environment, subdivided by category,
  • the web pages of international organizations offering employment opportunities,
  • the pages of Schools and Universities offering courses in the various environmental disciplines.
• Environmental legislation: with this section, which definitely represents the "strong point" of our work, we intend to supply a guide, easy and quick to use, to enable the user to find his way within the complicated maze of Community and national environmental legislation, the restrictions, the financing opportunities related to the protection of the environment. These are the goals we have set ourselves:
  • supply a complete picture of Community and national environmental legislation, both current and subject to approval.
  • Offer a news summary on the EU financing opportunities related to the environment, by supplying detailed and up-to-date information on projects and programmes supported by the EU funded research, the structural funds, the financial instruments for the environment and all other Community sources of financing. A series of specifically targeted information (type of project financed, financial participation, deadlines for the presentation of the proposals, etc.) will assist the user in identifying the project which best fits the initiative he has in mind.
  • Deal with the numerous applicative and interpretive problems related to the environmental legislation through a regular analysis of the most recent deliberations by the EC Court of Justice, the Constitutional Court, the Court of Cassation, the civil and penal judges of jurisdiction and the administrative judges.
  • Report the main deadlines set by state legislation related to environmental protection for businesses and organizations.

Our potential users

ECO-COMM addresses a broad range of users, not only because of the variety of environmental issues discussed, but also for the quality of information offered.

For each area, in addition to the more practical aspects, we will try to provide a picture as comprehensive and exhaustive as possible of the EU (and national) action in the environmental field.

Potential users of the site will, therefore, be: public and private entrepreneurs, environmental and consumer organizations, legal and consulting firms.

Future developments

We intend to become the on-line reference point with regard to all aspects of environmental management. From the beginning, complete and updated juridical and legislative information will be supplied. The service will be gradually extended to two additional areas: advisory on EU financing and environmental audit.

ECO-COMM will provide global assistance in these three areas through up-to-date information, documentation, advisory and training.

We can guarantee, from the very beginning, maximum professionalism and competence and full commitment to the growth and development of the ECO-COMM project.

Who we are

Maria Grazia Boccia is in charge of ECO-COMM, a consulting firm specialized in EU and environmental law, and the conceiver of the site.

Some biographical notes follows below:

• Maria Grazia Boccia has completed her studies in the United States, graduating in 'International Affairs' from The George Washington University and obtaining a Master, also in 'International Affairs', from the Johns Hopkins University, The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. Here she has carried-out a two years research thesis on the European Community action aimed at balancing the conflicting interests of environment and trade.
• After having completed a graduate degree program in European Community Law, Politics and Economics at the Collegio Europeo di Parma, in Italy, she has worked for three years at the Collegio, cooperating in the design and the implementation of a data-base on EU legislation and carrying-out research and consulting activity for firms and professionals in the various areas of activity of the European Union.
• For several years she has carried-out consulting activity on EU environmental law.
• She has been a member of the Commission, instituted at the Italian Ministry of Environment, with the task of drafting 'consolidation acts' in the various fields of environmental law.
• She has been a professor on EU environmental law, in the 'Master in Environmental Law' Program at Ceida, in Rome.
• She contributes to several Reviews, writing on EU environmental law.
• She is the co-author, with Lawyer Franco Giampietro, of a series of volumes on the case law of the EU Court of Justice on environmental protection.