Another obstacle to proper implementation of the WFD is the conflict between national authorities and the regions, as well as regulatory uncertainty due to the perception of continuous changes in the institutional framework. Indeed, when the river basin authorities became river district authorities, the central government acquired more power regarding river basin management while the distribution of power among the state and the regions had previously been more clearly defined. The district authority is now considered a source of conflict between the state and regions, instead of being a planning and co-ordinating authority.