Governing Sustainability in the EU
From Political Discourse to Policy Practices
Routledge Studies on Government and the European Union Series

Governing Sustainability in the EU examines the recent novelties in the EU agenda for sustainable development, illustrating how the process of policy change has occurred at different levels, comprising general priorities, specific objectives and policy instruments.

The book focuses on the evolution of the principle of policy integration and analyses its implementation by specific policy instruments across three policy areas: energy efficiency (the Covenant of Mayors), innovation (the Eco-Innovation Programme) and regional development (ERDF regional programmes regarding sustainable urban development). It specifically examines two domestic contexts (Italy and the UK) with the aim of understanding how the goals and means envisaged by the EU have been translated into concrete policy practices on the ground, and which factors have influenced the creation of new policy and governance practices necessary for the achievement of sustainable development objectives.

This text will be of key interest to scholars, students and practitioners of sustainable development, European Union Politics, and Environmental Politics.

Introduction 1. Understanding Policy Change in the EU: What is Missing in our Knowledge of Policy Implementation? 2. EU Agenda for Sustainable Development: Evolving Policy Instruments and Governance Architectures 3. National Sustainable Development Strategies: Italy and the United Kingdom Compared 4. Actions for Sustainable Urban Development in Cohesion Policies 5. Local Action for Sustainable Energy: The EU Covenant of Mayors 6. Technological Innovation for Environment: The Eco-Innovation Programme 7. Conclusions

Ekaterina Domorenok is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Padua, Italy.