This chapter traces the evolution of EU environmental policy, from its roots in the early days of the EU’s precursor, the European Economic Community, to the launch of the European Green Deal in December 2019. It outlines the progressive integration of environmental objectives into a comprehensive EU regulatory body that includes treaties, strategies, action plans, policy initiatives, etc. These documents that have shaped the EU’s environmental governance demonstrate that the EU had built a robust framework of environmental policies, principles and activities well before the European Green Deal. These policies have evolved organically at various institutional levels since the 1970s and progressively integrated sustainability within broader economic and social frameworks, acknowledging the interconnectedness of environmental, economic and social goals.