ABSTRACT
In their classic study of policy implementation, Pressman and Wildavsky (1984) entitled their book, Implementation: How Great Expectations in Washington are Dashed in Oakland. This chapter draws something of its inspiration from that tradition of policy analysis. The focus is placed squarely upon how the European Union (EU) has interacted with the environmental policy regimes of both the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and Northern Ireland (NI). An assessment is offered of the impact of the EU regarding environmental issues, especially those connected with rural areas. Has the EU managed to modernize official thinking on environmental questions, especially in the sense of disseminating best practice? Or has it been largely an ineffectual force for change, and perhaps even counter-productive?
