Water governance in France: institutional framework, stakeholders, arrangements and process

The enforcement of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) is not such an administrative issue in France as it is in other countries, since competent authorities (water agencies) already have jurisdiction over major watersheds (districts). As far as the WFD implementation is concerned, setting and reaching objectives of water quality (good status) and implementing cost recovery policy are more challenging for France and will require necessary changes and adjustments. Water in France is not managed according to its ownership, but its uses. In this chapter, after (i) an overview of the water governance institutional framework, (ii) the water governance arrangements is tackled: the main stakeholders is described and key issues of the current process of making decision are dealt with, in the general context of implementing the WFD. The original institutional tools developed to integrate different water uses for the sake of ecosystems preservation are also considered.