TY - JOUR

T1 - Policy implementation through multi-level governance

T2 - analysing practical implementation of EU air quality directives in Germany

AU - Gollata, Judith A.M.

AU - Newig, Jens

PY - 2017/9/24

Y1 - 2017/9/24

N2 - Eurpean Union (EU) environmental policy has increasingly advanced multi-level governance (MLG) to improve policy implementation. MLG approaches mandate (sub-) national planning and introduce functional governance layers to match the biophysical scale of environmental problems. Whereas the literature on policy implementation has focused on the challenges posed by multi-level systems, the described EU approach relies on MLG as a strategy to better policy implementation. This contribution studies the implementation of EU air quality directives, drawing on all 137 German air quality and action plans, to explore how requirements of multi-level implementation are delivered on the ground. Overall, we find the model of implementing air quality policy through MLG of limited success. In particular, sub-national policy-makers use their new planning competencies but struggle to implement functional governance layers. Mirroring experiences from neighbouring EU policy fields, our findings raise the broader issue of ‘failed’ implementation versus a still untapped potential for adaptation and governance learning.

AB - Eurpean Union (EU) environmental policy has increasingly advanced multi-level governance (MLG) to improve policy implementation. MLG approaches mandate (sub-) national planning and introduce functional governance layers to match the biophysical scale of environmental problems. Whereas the literature on policy implementation has focused on the challenges posed by multi-level systems, the described EU approach relies on MLG as a strategy to better policy implementation. This contribution studies the implementation of EU air quality directives, drawing on all 137 German air quality and action plans, to explore how requirements of multi-level implementation are delivered on the ground. Overall, we find the model of implementing air quality policy through MLG of limited success. In particular, sub-national policy-makers use their new planning competencies but struggle to implement functional governance layers. Mirroring experiences from neighbouring EU policy fields, our findings raise the broader issue of ‘failed’ implementation versus a still untapped potential for adaptation and governance learning.

KW - Politics

KW - Decentralization

KW - environmental policy

KW - local governance

KW - mandated participatory planning

KW - multi-level policy implementation

KW - spatial fit

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85019202374&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/13501763.2017.1314539

DO - 10.1080/13501763.2017.1314539

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85019202374

VL - 24

SP - 1308

EP - 1327

JO - Journal of European Public Policy

JF - Journal of European Public Policy

SN - 1350-1763

IS - 9

ER -