Do regular planning, budgetary and audit exercises reflect EPI priorities?
In the Netherlands, Norway and the UK, attempts are made to use budgetary, planning and audit processes to support EPI. However even these countries have difficulties making it work. The greatest scope for making strategic processes work for EPI, is in countries that emphasise strategic management initiatives – including new public management. Here, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK are amongst the frontrunners. Little has been made of the potential to use auditing systems to evaluate progress in relation to EPI. The UK is an exception – going even further by extending beyond a purely financial remit. Are environmental responsibilities reflected in the administration’s internal management regime? There is no evidence that EPI is included systematically within management systems. EMAS and similar systems could have a positive effect here. Countries do not seem to allocate responsibility for EPI in all departments and at all levels, though this is important for promoting EPI in administ
