The most egregious example of hyperfragmentation of water policy is the United States (see Box 2.3). In some countries (France, Spain) the intervention of ministries and public agencies is focused on strategic planning and priority-setting, as well as policy making and implementation, while in others (Canada, United States, United Kingdom), it is more oriented towards environmental regulation. Naturally, the role of central government in water policy is less important in federal countries that have either devoted most of the responsibilities to sub-national governments or totally decentralised their water policy making, as in the case of Belgium.