Short description: The present work identifies policies affecting the management of five deep European lakes and their catchment. Five deep European lakes were chosen as case studies: Lac du Bourget, Bodensee, Loch Lomond, Lake Längelmävesi-Roine and Lac Léman. Lake management is described using information about their environmental status and their legislation at the local, regional and national levels. In particular, the environmental aspects and water characterisation and the social, policy and economic aspects were considered to evaluate the conditions of implementation of the recent European water policy (Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC).