The Relationship Between Technological Policy and Environmental Policy Making in the European Union

Abstract

The Fourth Industrial Revolution has made innovations faster, more efficient, and more accessible than ever before. Technology is also increasingly interconnected, as we witness the merging of the digital, physical, and biological realms. On the other hand, today's world faces threats that are becoming increasingly complex and significant. Environmental crises and environmental degradation can be considered one of these threats, and this threat can endanger human life. The European Union and its member states, realizing this issue, have been pursuing appropriate environmental planning since the 1960s. This article, using a descriptive and analytical method, seeks to explain how technological policies and environmental policies are related in the European Union. The results of this study show that to date, the technological programs and policies of the European Union have included the Lisbon Strategy, the Europe 2020 Strategy, the European Framework and Horizon 2020 Program, and the environmental programs and policies of the European Union have included the European Environmental Action Plan (resource efficiency, biodiversity, chemicals, waste, air, water, forests and soil), the European Green Deal, the circular economy, sustainable transport, clean energy transition and environmental operational programs. Finally, the link between technological and environmental policies in the EU represents a joint effort to create a more sustainable and resilient future, and these strategies work in tandem to facilitate sustainable economic and environmental development in the EU. It is noteworthy that the Russia-Ukraine war has prompted a review of the EU policy framework, leading to significant changes in its strategic priorities—a topic that will be discussed in detail in the following sections.