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The marathon of the hare and the tortoise: implementing the EU Water Framework Directive

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  • Magalie Bourblanc
  • Ann Crabb�
  • Duncan Liefferink
  • Mark Wiering

Abstract

Reading the available evidence on the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD), one gets the impression that some countries anticipate implementation problems by starting off pragmatically and with relatively low ambitions, while others make a quick and ambitious start and tend to slow down in later phases of the process. Inspired by Lundqvist's classical study of air pollution policy in the USA and Sweden, we assess the importance of some general characteristics of the respective political-institutional systems to explain differences in WFD implementation in four EU countries: Denmark, France, England/Wales and the Netherlands. We conclude, among other things, that visibility of the policy process, accountability of politicians and policy makers vis-�-vis their stakeholders and the EU, division of responsibilities for policy formulation vs. implementation and the involvement of the public explain the level of ambition in EU implementation to a considerable extent. Thus, the Lundqvist variables turn out to be useful for both classifying and explaining differences in EU implementation processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Magalie Bourblanc & Ann Crabb� & Duncan Liefferink & Mark Wiering, 2013. "The marathon of the hare and the tortoise: implementing the EU Water Framework Directive," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(10), pages 1449-1467, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:jenpmg:v:56:y:2013:i:10:p:1449-1467
    DOI: 10.1080/09640568.2012.726197
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. F. Zagonari, 2015. "Coherence, efficiency, and independence of the EU environmental policy system: results of complementary statistical and econometric analyses," Working Papers wp992, Dipartimento Scienze Economiche, Universita' di Bologna.
    2. Fabio Zagonari, 2018. "Coherence, Causality, and Effectiveness of the EU Environmental Policy System: Results of Complementary Statistical and Econometric Analyses," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 70(1), pages 1-29, May.
    3. Laurence Amblard & Carsten Mann, 2021. "Understanding collective action for the achievement of EU water policy objectives in agricultural landscapes: Insights from the Institutional Design Principles and Integrated Landscape Management appr," Post-Print hal-03343649, HAL.
    4. Gabrielle Bouleau & Rémi Barbier & Marie-Pierre Halm-Lemeille & Bruno Tassin & Arnaud Buchs & Florence Habets, 2020. "Despite great expectations in the Seine River Basin, the WFD did not reduce diffuse pollution," Post-Print halshs-02957812, HAL.
    5. Ditte M. R. Jensen & Anja T. H. Thomsen & Torben Larsen & Sara Egemose & Peter S. Mikkelsen, 2020. "From EU Directives to Local Stormwater Discharge Permits: A Study of Regulatory Uncertainty and Practice Gaps in Denmark," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-34, August.

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