Lost in translation: questioning the role of European evaluations in environmental policy change

Abstract

In the EU, evaluations are built into most modern laws, creating windows for policy feedback and new interpretations accounting for a constantly shifting society and environment. One issue often addressed by evaluators is whether a given policy should be retained in its original form, especially when new information is inconsistent and may upend former policy compromises. To what extent, then, are EU evaluations a legitimate opportunity for learning, adaptation and transformation? This article shows how evaluators engage in an activity known as transcoding, which involves translating expert knowledge into actionable recommendations to maintain a functioning policy system. Based on a study of the Water Framework Directive and its two evaluations – Water Blueprint (2012) and Fitness Check (2019) – we argue that transcoding has employed conflict-averse strategies, sidestepping difficult implementation dilemmas. Such strategies may have contributed to the development of lock-ins, that is, a persistence of the status quo.