Implementing EUs Water Framework Directive in Norway: Do New Water Regions Represent Effective Networks for Multi-Level Coordination or a Decentralisation of Dilemmas?

The paper focuses upon how the implementing of the EUs Water Framework Directive in Norway have established new network arenas for the purpose of multi-level coordination. Here, the goal-attainment of reaching good ecological status for all water bodies depends upon new and innovative ways of coordinating the activities, knowledge and resources of many sectors and levels of government, including private sector. In contrast to countries like Denmark, Finland and Germany, Norway has, as Sweden, adapted an eco-based structure following catchment areas. Thus, the 11 River Basin Districts do not correspond to the 19 Counties, but cut across existing municipal, regional and national borders. The new network arenas are River Basin District Water Boards in all the 11 River Basin Districts, and Sub District Boards at the sub-regional level. The output of the deliberation in the network arenas is a binding Management plan for all actors in each River Basin District. The Counties are supposed to coordinate regionalized state agencies, over which they have no binding authority and where many operate in regions at another geographical range than the Counties, as well as municipalities and private actors. Based upon coordination literature (Bouckaert, et al 2010, Osborne 2010, Peters 2010, Pollit et al 2004) and our own “ladder of coordination”, the paper discusses what challenges this development represents, especially related to how the asymmetry in authority (superior/sub-ordination) between the actors influence the coordination being performed by the counties.