The European flood risk management plan : Between spatial planning and water engineering

In response to the extreme flood events of recent decades, the European Floods Directive (2007/60/EC) requires Member States of the European Union to develop Flood Risk Management Plans (Dworak & Görlach 2005). These plans need to be in place by 2015 and set‘appropriate objectives for the management of flood risk and [reduce] potential adverse consequences of flooding for human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity’ (Floods Directive 2007: Article 7 II). They are based on river basin districts. This special issue addresses the new plan instrument that is unique in terms of its governance since it formally changes flood risk management from being predominantly the responsibility of water engineering, to incorporate spatial planning in the management process