Introduction

From the Seveso disaster in 1976, through to the breaking of the tailings dam in Aznalcóllar in 1988, up to the accidents in Baia Mare and Baia Borsa in 2000, there is an endless list of accidents that have seriously affected the environment. Who should carry the cost of remediation of contaminated areas and repair the damage caused? Does society itself have to pay or should the individual responsible have to foot the bill? The answer is not as straightforward as it may seem. The "polluter pays" principle constitutes the cornerstone of the European ...