The multi-level governance of water under the climate crisis. Two EU MS at a glance: Italy and Spain

Abstract

La governance multilivello dell’acqua di fronte alla crisi climatica. Due Stati membri dell’UE a confronto: Italia e Spagna – In light of the current climate crisis, the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts, coupled with the suboptimal efficiency of waterworks, necessitate a new, resilient governance approach that is more flexible, better coordinated, and inclusive. Is the water governance of EU countries prepared for the challenges posed by climate change? This article explores the challenges associated with implementing EU water policy reforms (i.e., the Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive) in two EU Member States, Italy and Spain, by examining the evolution of institutional and legislative reforms.

Keywords: Multi-level water governance; Intergovernmental relations; Italian water governance; Spanish water governance; Water reforms