Regarding instruments, the current existing instruments addressing droughts
have not been developed within a strategic approach. The instruments were
developed very independently for each of the different relevant areas. Because only
a limited number of instruments relevant for drought purposes are in place, in
general the instruments do not overlap. Smaller problems exist, e.g. between
groundwater recharge and rainwater storage, which should be taken into consideration for new instruments. Over the past years, the topic of water scarcity and
droughts has been integrated in several strategy papers and the Flemish vision on
water. However, the future development of these issues could be helped by a more
strategic approach. Further activities for a coherent approach in water management
in general, can be seen in the synchronization of the planning period of sub-basin
RBMPs (and basin RBMPs. Also the integration of drought measures in the
RBMPs (from 2015) shows a tendency to a harmonized approach of developing and
implementing drought measures with other water management measures.
The responsibilities for water scarcity and droughts are unclear or not assigned in
many organizations and levels, including the Flemish regional level. Within in
VMM, responsibilities are associated with different departments and therefore are
very fragmented. This fragmentation leads to own individual discussions with the
‘normally’ involved institutions and levels. A coherent connection between the
different discussions and approaches is not realized in the most involved organizations. Because the issue is not high on the agenda, there are as yet no competence
conflicts between the different actors.
7.4.3 Flexibility
The analysis shows a moderate flexibility of the water governance system. Federal
arrangements seem to point towards a good flexibility between different levels and
scales, a flexibility that is built into the system: problems are dealt with ‘at the
relevant level’, for example, in direct negotiation between Brussels and Flanders
when it comes to a new waste water treatment plant. The possibility of issues
moving up one level can be seen in cross-boundary management issues. However,
on the topic of drought, the lead is currently firmly in the hands of VMM, and no
clear possibilities of issues moving downwards, to a level closer to local,
on-the-ground implementation of actions, were observed.
The high involvement of actors in the processes, with both formal and informal
contacts, is positive. The formal coordination mechanisms are complemented by
informal ones between different actors in water management. The fact that Flanders
in a comparatively small region has all the different levels and actors ranging from a
‘central government’ to the local level would seem to help in the processes of VMM
and others, reaching out to different actors. However, the flexibility in the kind of
involvement and at what stage of the process could be increased, e.g. so that
relevant actors can also be part of planning processes.
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151
have not been developed within a strategic approach. The instruments were
developed very independently for each of the different relevant areas. Because only
a limited number of instruments relevant for drought purposes are in place, in
general the instruments do not overlap. Smaller problems exist, e.g. between
groundwater recharge and rainwater storage, which should be taken into consideration for new instruments. Over the past years, the topic of water scarcity and
droughts has been integrated in several strategy papers and the Flemish vision on
water. However, the future development of these issues could be helped by a more
strategic approach. Further activities for a coherent approach in water management
in general, can be seen in the synchronization of the planning period of sub-basin
RBMPs (and basin RBMPs. Also the integration of drought measures in the
RBMPs (from 2015) shows a tendency to a harmonized approach of developing and
implementing drought measures with other water management measures.
The responsibilities for water scarcity and droughts are unclear or not assigned in
many organizations and levels, including the Flemish regional level. Within in
VMM, responsibilities are associated with different departments and therefore are
very fragmented. This fragmentation leads to own individual discussions with the
‘normally’ involved institutions and levels. A coherent connection between the
different discussions and approaches is not realized in the most involved organizations. Because the issue is not high on the agenda, there are as yet no competence
conflicts between the different actors.
7.4.3 Flexibility
The analysis shows a moderate flexibility of the water governance system. Federal
arrangements seem to point towards a good flexibility between different levels and
scales, a flexibility that is built into the system: problems are dealt with ‘at the
relevant level’, for example, in direct negotiation between Brussels and Flanders
when it comes to a new waste water treatment plant. The possibility of issues
moving up one level can be seen in cross-boundary management issues. However,
on the topic of drought, the lead is currently firmly in the hands of VMM, and no
clear possibilities of issues moving downwards, to a level closer to local,
on-the-ground implementation of actions, were observed.
The high involvement of actors in the processes, with both formal and informal
contacts, is positive. The formal coordination mechanisms are complemented by
informal ones between different actors in water management. The fact that Flanders
in a comparatively small region has all the different levels and actors ranging from a
‘central government’ to the local level would seem to help in the processes of VMM
and others, reaching out to different actors. However, the flexibility in the kind of
involvement and at what stage of the process could be increased, e.g. so that
relevant actors can also be part of planning processes.
7 Flanders: Regional Organization of Water and Drought …
151