With more than 200 legal acts currently in force at EU level, environment represents one of the most dense and far-reaching areas of EU law. EU environmental law covers a wide range of topics both sectoral such as for example waste management, nature protection or water management and horizontal such as public participation in environmental decision-making, environmental impact assessment or access to justice. All these topics are governed by a number of environmental principles both at EU level and national level. This seminar offers a comprehensive overview of the main principles which govern EU environmental law such as the “polluter-pays” principle, the precautionary principle, the prevention principle, the rectification at source of environmental damage. The crucial issue of access to justice in environmental matters will also be covered.