Laggard by Design: The Case of the Implementation of the EU Directive on the Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge in Italy

The literature on EU environmental policy implementation shows that Italy’s low administrative capacity prevents it from fully complying with EU provisions. This paper builds on this literature and, through a comprehensive documentary analysis, utilises a process tracing methodology to analyse the implementation process of the sewage sludge directive. This policy has implications for public health and the environment, causing widespread concern. Empirical findings show that the poor performance in this sector results from specific, customised policy decisions made by national and regional authorities at different points in time. The conclusions suggest that, rather than being incompetent, Italy can be defined as a laggard by design.