Cryptic survival and an unexpected recovery of the long-tailed mayfly Palingenia longicauda (Olivier, 1791) (Ephemeroptera: Palingeniidae) in Southeastern Europe.

Once widespread in the large European rivers, Palingenia longicauda underwent a drastic range contraction as a result of the intense pollution and hydromorphological interventions of the 19th and 20th centuries. For the last decades it was considered to be restricted only to the Tisa River and its tributaries, and to the Rba&aacute River, but new reports indicated its presence in the Danube River in Hungary, in the Danube Delta in Romania and Ukraine, and in the Prut River in the Republic of Moldova. The objective of this study is to analyze the phylogeographic pattern between the two main eco-regions (Pannon and Pontic) of the species distribution, based on the combined mitochondrial COI (472 bp) and 16S (464 bp) sequences generated for individuals collected in Romania and Ukraine, and from publicly available ones, representing the Tisa catchment populations. The presence of viable populations in the Danube Delta and on the Prut River in Romania is confirmed, and additional presence on the Mureș and Bega rivers from Romania, and on the Styr and Horyn rivers in Northern Ukraine is shown. The phylogeographic results indicate that the presence of the analyzed populations are not the result of recent founding events from the Pannon region, confirming the survival and expansion of cryptic local lineages. The recent recovery of the species may be related to the improvement of water quality as a result of the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive and the EU Floods Directive after 2000.

Adaptation Measures to Climate Change within the European Floods Directive (2007/60/EC)

Extreme weather conditions, attributed to climate change, include the increase in floods. The only available and appropriate response to the impacts of climate change already shown is adaptation. Adaptation is defined as the process of adjusting to climate change by taking appropriate action to prevent or minimize the damage it may cause. Within this framework, the EU 2007/60/EC Floods Directive foresees that the member states shall undertake preliminary flood risk assessments, taking into account inter alia the impacts of climate change on the occurrence of floods. The present paper aims at the identification of the existing legislative gaps in the Floods Directive taking into consideration the adaptation need regarding climate change.

Positioning the Nordic Countries in European Union Environmental Policy

The influence of the Nordic countries on the European Union’s (EU's) policy processes has been researched from various angles, but there is a lack of research that comprehensively examines all policy positions advanced by Nordic actors within a given policy context. This article introduces a new design for studying policy positions and influence in the EU and examines the phenomenon from a multilevel perspective using an original data set compiled in connection to three directives: the Floods Directive on the assessment and management of flood risks, the Environmental Liability Directive, and the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive. The analysis reveals that the Nordic countries follow a certain pattern of influencing EU policy that deviates from other states participating in the consultations. Nordic governmental actors exert a strong technical but weak directional influence in the chosen context but are, overall, more successful than Nordic organizational actors at influencing the policy process.

Obligation or Innovation: Can the EU Floods Directive Be Seen as a Tipping Point Towards More Resilient Flood Risk Management? A Case Study from Vorarlberg, Austria

Environmental change is subject to discussion among scientists, practitioners, and policymakers. As increasing threats to both environment and society are on the agenda, alternative management approaches are gaining importance. This paper focuses on the influence of policy changes on flood risk management. There is evidence that shifts in settlement patterns and population growth might influence the dynamics of flood damage and loss. There is increased pressure to intensify land use, but also to keep free spaces for hazard mitigation and adaptation. In this paper, we focus on new regulative and management approaches associated with the implementation of the European (EU) Floods Directive in Austria. The concept of tipping points, which are defined as turning points for system change, has been applied. Based on semi-structured interviews we evaluate whether or not the implementation of the EU Floods Directive has triggered a system change in flood risk management. Our results show that triggers for change are past flood events and a general need for action rather than the implementation of the directive itself. Changes related to the EU Floods Directive are likely to happen in the long-term; however, these cannot yet be determined. The main challenges are associated with transparency and communication between policymakers and the affected society. So far, the requirements of the first policy cycle of the directive have been fulfilled. The second policy cycle will show further outcomes and potential needs.

Governing Integration: Insights from Integrating Implementation of European Water Policies

Integrated water resource management (IWRM) is a well-established goal, but there is little evidence about processes of integration linked to water policies. To address this, in 2016–2018 we used a content analysis, a survey and interviews with key actors leading the creation of plans to implement Europe’s Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive. We explored whether and how implementation of these policies is being coordinated and reflect on implications for integrated water governance. We found a strong emphasis on achieving integration via coordination. Our interviews brought particular attention to the resources and capacities needed to improve collaboration across teams, including but not limited to information-sharing. Our study gives insight into practical approaches that may support coordination and hence integration of different policy goals for water management: however further theoretically-informed study to track these and other processes is required, as work to connect policy integration with IWRM is still in its infancy.

Improving Public Participation Processes for the Floods Directive and Flood Awareness: Evidence from Cyprus

Public participation is integrated in the European Floods Directive to ensure engagement of societal actors in selecting and accepting measures. This study assesses the Directive’s public participation process and provides recommendations for its improvement by using Cyprus as a case study. Interviews with the organizers and attendees of the public consultations were carried out to evaluate the process while a citizen survey examined people’s flood awareness and opinions of three household-level flood protection measures (permeable pavements, rainwater harvesting systems, and green roofs). Public consultation organizers were generally satisfied with the process while participants suggested better structured information and a more participatory approach. The majority (77%) of the survey respondents did not know if they lived in a designated flood risk area while 93% were unaware of the public consultations carried out for the Floods Directive. Their perception about the effectiveness of the three flood protection measures was positively associated with their willingness to implement them. The results indicated the need for more participatory methods in the public participation process and better strategies to increase awareness and the engagement of people in flood management. Establishing procedures for evaluating the effectiveness of public participation could contribute to the recognition and improvement of the process.