206
biodiversity, Pe’er et al., expect that the design and implementation of the current
measures are ‘unlikely to contribute to improving the status of farmland biodiversity
given that the majority of farmers would not be required to perform any changes of
current farming practices’ in order to comply with them (2014). This conclusion is
supported by Dicks et al who suggest that there is little empirical or experimental
evidence to support the claim that wildlife may benefit from the greening measures
(2014). Likewise, the ability of the greening measures to deliver benefits for the
climate would appear to be comparatively limited under the current framework.
Thus, in its 2016 Implementation Report the Commission estimated their contribution to be merely ‘moderately relevant to address the priorities identified for GHG
emissions, maintaining carbon stocks and/or increasing carbon sequestration’
(European Commission 2016).
These outcomes have prompted the European Court of Auditors to conclude that
the greening measures, as currently implemented, are unlikely to significantly
enhance the CAP’s environmental and climate performance (2017). On the other
hand, it should be noted that the introduction of the greening measures has added
significant complexity to the CAP in terms of both their administration and implementation (European Court of Auditors 2017). This burden is primarily borne by the
MSs, where varying levels of technical expertise are expected to have further implications for the quality of implementation and enforcement (European Court of
Auditors 2017).
4 Looking to the Future CAP: Seven More Years
of Environmental Austerity?
As the EU prepares to reform the CAP for the 2021–2027 programming period,
there is undoubtedly a growing need to improve the environmental dividends delivered by the CAP. And given the significant challenges outlined above, it is also clear
that the ambition of future action will be required to far exceed that of current measures in order to produce meaningful outcomes. Accomplishing this high task will
also require a level of commitment and determination, on the part of EU institutions
and MSs, that goes well beyond efforts to date. Moreover, ambitious action to protect the environment will require appropriate funding allocations to this end.
However, several current geopolitical issues threaten to undermine the EU’s ability
to secure considerable improvements during the 2021–2027 period. For the purposes of the current discussion two of these deserve brief mention.
First, it should be noted that all aspects of EU decision-making and governance
have been affected by the decision of the UK to leave the EU, following a 2016
referendum. The CAP is no exception and stands to be impacted more than other
policies as it loses funding from the UK, which has long been a net-contributor to
the CAP budget (Matthews 2016). Consequently, the economic uncertainty brought
about by the so called ‘Brexit’ is not likely to stimulate the EU’s willingness to commit to major spending obligations in the near term.
A. A. Epstein
biodiversity, Pe’er et al., expect that the design and implementation of the current
measures are ‘unlikely to contribute to improving the status of farmland biodiversity
given that the majority of farmers would not be required to perform any changes of
current farming practices’ in order to comply with them (2014). This conclusion is
supported by Dicks et al who suggest that there is little empirical or experimental
evidence to support the claim that wildlife may benefit from the greening measures
(2014). Likewise, the ability of the greening measures to deliver benefits for the
climate would appear to be comparatively limited under the current framework.
Thus, in its 2016 Implementation Report the Commission estimated their contribution to be merely ‘moderately relevant to address the priorities identified for GHG
emissions, maintaining carbon stocks and/or increasing carbon sequestration’
(European Commission 2016).
These outcomes have prompted the European Court of Auditors to conclude that
the greening measures, as currently implemented, are unlikely to significantly
enhance the CAP’s environmental and climate performance (2017). On the other
hand, it should be noted that the introduction of the greening measures has added
significant complexity to the CAP in terms of both their administration and implementation (European Court of Auditors 2017). This burden is primarily borne by the
MSs, where varying levels of technical expertise are expected to have further implications for the quality of implementation and enforcement (European Court of
Auditors 2017).
4 Looking to the Future CAP: Seven More Years
of Environmental Austerity?
As the EU prepares to reform the CAP for the 2021–2027 programming period,
there is undoubtedly a growing need to improve the environmental dividends delivered by the CAP. And given the significant challenges outlined above, it is also clear
that the ambition of future action will be required to far exceed that of current measures in order to produce meaningful outcomes. Accomplishing this high task will
also require a level of commitment and determination, on the part of EU institutions
and MSs, that goes well beyond efforts to date. Moreover, ambitious action to protect the environment will require appropriate funding allocations to this end.
However, several current geopolitical issues threaten to undermine the EU’s ability
to secure considerable improvements during the 2021–2027 period. For the purposes of the current discussion two of these deserve brief mention.
First, it should be noted that all aspects of EU decision-making and governance
have been affected by the decision of the UK to leave the EU, following a 2016
referendum. The CAP is no exception and stands to be impacted more than other
policies as it loses funding from the UK, which has long been a net-contributor to
the CAP budget (Matthews 2016). Consequently, the economic uncertainty brought
about by the so called ‘Brexit’ is not likely to stimulate the EU’s willingness to commit to major spending obligations in the near term.
A. A. Epstein