Elisa Kochskämper is a Research Associate with the Research Group on Governance, Participation and Sustainability at Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany. Edward Challies is Senior Research Associate with the Research Group on Governance, Participation and Sustainability, at Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany. Jens Newig holds a chair in governance and sustainability at Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany, affiliated with the university's Faculty of Sustainability and its Center for the Study of Democracy. Nicolas W. Jager is a postdoctoral Research Associate in the Research Group on Governance, Participation and Sustainability, at Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany.

• Part I Concepts and research design 1. Researching participation in environmental governance through the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive 2. Concepts: How participation leads to effective environmental governance 3. Paired case research design and mixed-methods approach Part II Empirical case studies of participatory water governance 4. Stakeholder involvement for Water Framework Directive implementation in Germany: Three case studies from Bavaria, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein 5. Stakeholder and citizen involvement for Water Framework Directive implementation in Spain: Three case studies from Andalusia, Cantabria and Catalonia 6. Stakeholder engagement in Water Framework Directive planning in the United Kingdom: Two case studies from Northern Ireland and Scotland Part III Comparative Analysis and Conclusions 7. Impact of participation on sustainable water management planning: Comparative analysis of eight cases 8. Participation and Effective Environmental Governance: Causal mechanisms, and beyond

Elisa Kochskämper is a Research Associate with the Research Group on Governance, Participation and Sustainability at Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany. Edward Challies is Senior Research Associate with the Research Group on Governance, Participation and Sustainability, at Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany. Jens Newig holds a chair in governance and sustainability at Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany, affiliated with the university's Faculty of Sustainability and its Center for the Study of Democracy. Nicolas W. Jager is a postdoctoral Research Associate in the Research Group on Governance, Participation and Sustainability, at Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany.

• Part I Concepts and research design 1. Researching participation in environmental governance through the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive 2. Concepts: How participation leads to effective environmental governance 3. Paired case research design and mixed-methods approach Part II Empirical case studies of participatory water governance 4. Stakeholder involvement for Water Framework Directive implementation in Germany: Three case studies from Bavaria, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein 5. Stakeholder and citizen involvement for Water Framework Directive implementation in Spain: Three case studies from Andalusia, Cantabria and Catalonia 6. Stakeholder engagement in Water Framework Directive planning in the United Kingdom: Two case studies from Northern Ireland and Scotland Part III Comparative Analysis and Conclusions 7. Impact of participation on sustainable water management planning: Comparative analysis of eight cases 8. Participation and Effective Environmental Governance: Causal mechanisms, and beyond

Elisa Kochskämper is a Research Associate with the Research Group on Governance, Participation and Sustainability at Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany. Edward Challies is Senior Research Associate with the Research Group on Governance, Participation and Sustainability, at Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany. Jens Newig holds a chair in governance and sustainability at Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany, affiliated with the university's Faculty of Sustainability and its Center for the Study of Democracy. Nicolas W. Jager is a postdoctoral Research Associate in the Research Group on Governance, Participation and Sustainability, at Leuphana University Lüneburg, Germany.

• Part I Concepts and research design 1. Researching participation in environmental governance through the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive 2. Concepts: How participation leads to effective environmental governance 3. Paired case research design and mixed-methods approach Part II Empirical case studies of participatory water governance 4. Stakeholder involvement for Water Framework Directive implementation in Germany: Three case studies from Bavaria, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein 5. Stakeholder and citizen involvement for Water Framework Directive implementation in Spain: Three case studies from Andalusia, Cantabria and Catalonia 6. Stakeholder engagement in Water Framework Directive planning in the United Kingdom: Two case studies from Northern Ireland and Scotland Part III Comparative Analysis and Conclusions 7. Impact of participation on sustainable water management planning: Comparative analysis of eight cases 8. Participation and Effective Environmental Governance: Causal mechanisms, and beyond