Public Participation in the Elbe Basin

Case study report produced under Work Package 5

Publication: Case Study
Citation: Borowski, Ilke; Nicole Kranz; Eleftheria Kampa and Antje Vorwerk 2004: Public Participation in the Elbe Basin. Case study report pruduced under Work Package 5 of the HarmoniCOP project. Institute for Environmental Systems Research - University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück.

Ecologic Institute supported the Institute for Environmental Systems Research at the University of Osnabrück in conducting a real-time case study in the Elbe basin. The main research focus of this study was the interplay of authorities and the various interest groups. The study [pdf, 2.7 MB, English] is available for download.

Public Participation in River Basin Management in Germany

"From borders to natural boundaries"

Year 2003

Publication:Article

Finding a place for public participation in the policies and practices of European river basin management planning is a challenge for the authorities in the participating countries and territories. Understanding the relationship between national culture, the historical and political differences in the respective countries, and their practical experience with participation is considered important in the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive. Knowledge and understanding of this relationship will help to provide a context and basis from which new participatory practices can be designed and experiences evaluated, and will also facilitate the identification of conditions necessary for social learning.

Cultural Factors as Co-Determinants of Participation in River Basin Management

Year 2007

Publication:Policy Brief

This Ecologic Brief gives an overview of the main results and policy implications of the HarmoniCOP project. HarmoniCOP provides a comprehensive knowledge base for public participation in water management.

Public Participation in European River Basin Management

Lessons from the HarmoniCOP project

Year 2006

Publication:Book

The printed edition of the handbook "Learning together to manage together – improving participation in water management" was published in January 2006. Ecologic actively contributed to the development of the handbook, which is one of the main outputs of the European project Harmonising Collaborative Planning (HarmoniCOP).

Learning Together to Manage Together

Improving Participation in Water Management

Year 2005

Project:FP 5

The main objective of the HarmoniCOP (project duration 2002 – 2005) project, which was funded under the 5th European framework for Research, was to increase the understanding of participatory river basin management in Europe. It caters to the paradigm that river basin management can only be effective and sustainable if the actors at each level and in each phase and sector become engaged in a social learning process.

Public Participation and the European Water Framework Directive (HarmoniCOP)

Oct 2002 - Aug 2005

Language: English
Authorship: Dr. Nicole Kranz

Dr. Eleftheria Kampa

Antje Vorwerk

Ilke Borowski
Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General Research (DG Research), International
Year: 2004
Dimension: 50 pp.
Project: Public Participation and the European Water Framework Directive (HarmoniCOP)
Project ID: 1975
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

Executive Summary / Main Findings
1 Introduction and Approach
2 Context
2.1 Environmental context
2.2 Institutional context
2.3 Socio-economic political context
3 Description of the PP process – three spotlights on the Elbe basin
3.1 Activities / Phases
3.2 IC Tools
3.3 Outcomes
3.4 Feedback
4 Analysis of the Process
4.1 Framing/reframing
4.2 Basic role of assumptions / definition of roles
4.3 Boundary management
4.4 Evolution of interests, functions and strategies
4.5 Critical events (turning points) analysis
4.6 Mechanisms that foster Social Learning
4.7 Barriers to Social Learning
4.8 Specific role of IC Tools
5 General Reflections
5.1 Theoretical framework
5.2 Case study results
5.3 Generalization potential
6 References
Annex 1 Main water uses in the Elbe basin
Annex 2 Stakeholder groups in the Elbe basins besides the competent water authorities
Annex 3 5: Description of Sub-cases
Annex 3 : 1st Sub-case: How to involve the public at strategical levels? (by Ilke Borowski,
Institute for Environmental Systems Research, University of Osnabrueck)
Annex 4 2nd Sub-case: The Unstrut Leine Forum in Thuringia (by Ilke Borowski, Institute
for Environmental Systems Research, University of Osnabrueck)
Annex 5: 3rd Sub-case: Brandenburg on its way to public participation (by Nicole Kranz und Eleftheria Kampa (Ecologic - Institute for International and European Environmental Policy)
Keywords: Water

implementation, Water Framework Directive, public participation, river basin management, water management

Europe, Elbe

Further Links

ProjectFP 5Public Participation and the European Water Framework Directive (HarmoniCOP)

The Water Framework Directive restructures the legislative frame for the protection of European water bodies and establishes new approaches to an integrated and comprehensive management of river basins. Part of these novel approaches is the explicit requirement for an... Read more

Public Participation and the European Water Framework Directive (HarmoniCOP)

Duration: Oct 2002 - Aug 2005
Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General Research (DG Research), International

PublicationBookLearning Together to Manage Together

Cernesson, F. et al. 2005: Learning Together to Manage Together - Improving Participation in Water Management]. Osnabrück: University of Osnabrück, Institute of Environmental Systems Research.