title: A methodology for the evaluation of water policies in European countries.
abstract: Periodic assessment of progress toward established policy goals is crucial to understanding whether the applied efforts are effective. In Europe, the Water Framework Directive (WFD) adopted in year 2000 set ambitious environmental objectives to be achieved by the end of 2015 through the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) principles. While at this stage it is premature to measure the impact of this Directive in terms of environmental outcomes, it is nonetheless important to develop indicators in order to monitor whether water management practices throughout Europe are aligning towards IWRM. This article presents the methodological development of the Water and Wetland Index, a comparative water policy assessment by environmental NGOs that was carried out in 2002-2003, and highlights the interest of repeating it in 2015, when the first WFD planning cycle will be completed.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Geodinámica, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, c/ Jose Antonio Novais 2, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040, Madrid, Spain. destefal@science.oregonstate.edu
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Stefano
authors.forename: Javier de Pedraza
authors.initials: Jde P
authors.lastname: Gilsanz
authors.forename: Fermín Villarroya
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Gil
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005060:Europe; D014867:Water; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D014867:Water