De Europees- en internationaalrechtelijke status van de Waddenzee

This book collates knowledge about 13 international and European legal regimes (EU Directives, EU Regulations and international conventions) that aim to protect the Wadden Sea. The research focused not only on the texts of the legal instruments, but also on the decisions taken and soft law documents developed within the legal systems (e.g., Resolutions, Decisions, Recommendations, Guidelines and Handbooks). Soft law documents are not legally binding, but are legally relevant, especially because they provide more clarity on the meaning of central concepts, the goals of the regimes and the content of obligations and prohibitions. These soft law documents also often clarify how developments that received less attention at the time the directive or treaty came into effect, relate to the provisions of these legal instruments. Consider, for example, topics such as climate change and concerns regarding cumulative effects.