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

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.