Implementing EUs Water Framework Directive in Norway: Can the New River Basin Districts Ensure Environmental Policy Integration?

Abstract

This article is an empirical analysis of Norway’s implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive. Aiming at achieving good environmental status in all of Europe’s waters by 2015, the Directive is seen as a case of ‘environmental policy integration’ because it requires all relevant branches of government to comply with the provisions of the directive. Norway is currently in the process of finalizing the first comprehensive round of planning. Results from a survey in two rounds to key actors indicate that some branches of government seem to have made less progress than others in terms of achieving environmental policy integration. These differences are analyzed by reference to variations in the institutional set-ups and regulatory mechanisms available in each sector. The structural preconditions for effective environmental regulation appear to be highly varied, and this may affect the potential for achieving the aims of the directive related to all stressors to the aquatic environment.