Verduyn Country/Territory Belgium Type of court National - higher court Date Oct 31, 2001 Source UNEP, InforMEA Court name Conseil d'Etat Seat of court Brussels Judge J. BOVIN Reference number 100514 Language Dutch Subject Legal questions, Air & atmosphere Abstract This case concerned the interpretation of the nature of the right to an healthy environment and the right to health protection. The claimant contested the authorisation to build a system of antenna relay.The Court stated that the Constitution entails a right to an healthy environment, the right to health protection and indirectly the precautionary principle (article 23 Constitution).The Conseil d'Etat affirmed that article 23 of the Constitution does not entail direct effect. Article 23 cannot be used as a basis for obtaining direct results or creating individual rights. Full text CE Belgium, 31 October 2001, Verduyn, n°100.514.pdf 100514.pdf