The Challenges of Implementing the Water Framework Directive in Spain

The paper analyses the challenges the Water Framework Directive represents for Spain. The main issues include the complexity of implementing water planning under the present institutional arrangements, the difficulties of putting into practice the principle of cost recovery, and the validation of the scientific criteria of the Directive in terms of water quality. In spite of the added difficulties resulting from the very rigid timeframe for the implementation of the Directive as well as the international economic crisis which has affected every economic and social sector in the country, the Directive is considered as an opportunity to modernize and improve water policy in Spain.