Pragmatics of Policy: The Compliance of Dutch Environmental Policy Instruments to European Union Standards |
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Authors: | Sonja Kruitwagen Melchert Reudink Albert Faber |
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Institution: | (1) Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), PO Box 303, 3720 AH Bilthoven, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | Despite a general decrease in Dutch environmental emission trends, it remains difficult to comply with European Union (EU)
environmental policy targets. Furthermore, environmental issues have become increasingly complex and entangled with society.
Therefore, Dutch environmental policy follows a pragmatic line by adopting a flexible approach for compliance, rather than
aiming at further reduction at the source of emission. This may be politically useful in order to adequately reach EU targets,
but restoration of environmental conditions may be delayed. However, due to the complexity of today’s environmental issues,
the restoration of environmental conditions might not be the only standard for a proper policy approach. Consequently this
raises the question how the Dutch pragmatic approach to compliance qualifies in a broader policy assessment. In order to answer
this question, we adapt a policy assessment framework, developed by Hemerijck and Hazeu (Bestuurskunde 13(2), 2004), based on the dimensions of legitimacy and policy logic. We apply this framework for three environmental policy assessments:
flexible instruments in climate policy, fine-tuning of national and local measures to meet air quality standards, and derogation
for the Nitrate Directive. We conclude with general assessment notes on the appliance of flexible instruments in environmental
policy, showing that a broad and comprehensive perspective can help to understand the arguments to put such policy instruments
into place and to identify trade-offs between assessment criteria. |
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Keywords: | Environmental policy Policy evaluation Flexible instruments European Union Compliance Implementation |
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