209
other issues could contribute to further biophysical and biochemical tipping points
being reached, with great risk to future food security. Consequently, it is difficult to
overstate the need to create mechanisms that reflect the urgency of these challenges
and produce outcomes capable of reversing the current trajectory. The need to act
has perhaps never been greater.
As a flagship policy, it is inconceivable for the EU to reach its climate and environmental targets without also transforming the CAP. Yet, despite numerous reforms
and the development of an extensive agri-environmental framework, the pace of
change has been remarkably slow. The insufficiency of EU action was most recently
demonstrated by the limited environmental ambition that defined the 2013 CAP
reform, which delivered the policy’s legal framework for the 2014–2020 budgetary
cycle. Indeed, there would appear to be general consensus that they have failed to
deliver the environmental benefits needed to meaningfully address the rate of ecological decline. And, as EU institutions engage in the final negotiations to reform
the CAP for the next programming period, the question is whether the outlook is
better for the next 7 years or if more of the same may be expected?
References
Dicks LV et al (2014) A transparent process for evidence-informed policy making. Conserv Lett
7(2):119–125
Emmerson M et al (2016) Chapter two – how agricultural intensification affects biodiversity and
ecosystem services. Adv Ecol Res 55:43–97
EU Commission (2018) Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament
on the implementation of Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters
against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources based on Member State reports
for the period 2012–2015. COM(2018) 257
European Commission (2006) Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 – and beyond – sustaining
ecosystem services for human well-being. COM(2006) 216
European Commission (2011a) Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the
Council establishing rules for direct payments to farmers under support schemes within the
framework of the common agricultural policy. COM(2011) 625
European Commission (2011b) Impact assessment
European Commission (2016) Mapping and analysis of the implementation of the CAP: 2016
implementation report. European Commission, Brussels
European Commission (2017) The future of food and farming. COM(2017) 650
European Commission (2018) Proposal for a regulation of the European parliament and of the
council establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States
under the Common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European
Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural
Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European
Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 of the European Parliament
and of the Council. COM/2018/392
European Commission (2019) Reflection paper: towards a sustainable Europe by 2030.
COM(2019) 22
European Council (2014) Conclusions on 2030 climate and energy policy framework.
European Council
Agriculture in the European Union: Seven More Years of Environmental Austerity?
other issues could contribute to further biophysical and biochemical tipping points
being reached, with great risk to future food security. Consequently, it is difficult to
overstate the need to create mechanisms that reflect the urgency of these challenges
and produce outcomes capable of reversing the current trajectory. The need to act
has perhaps never been greater.
As a flagship policy, it is inconceivable for the EU to reach its climate and environmental targets without also transforming the CAP. Yet, despite numerous reforms
and the development of an extensive agri-environmental framework, the pace of
change has been remarkably slow. The insufficiency of EU action was most recently
demonstrated by the limited environmental ambition that defined the 2013 CAP
reform, which delivered the policy’s legal framework for the 2014–2020 budgetary
cycle. Indeed, there would appear to be general consensus that they have failed to
deliver the environmental benefits needed to meaningfully address the rate of ecological decline. And, as EU institutions engage in the final negotiations to reform
the CAP for the next programming period, the question is whether the outlook is
better for the next 7 years or if more of the same may be expected?
References
Dicks LV et al (2014) A transparent process for evidence-informed policy making. Conserv Lett
7(2):119–125
Emmerson M et al (2016) Chapter two – how agricultural intensification affects biodiversity and
ecosystem services. Adv Ecol Res 55:43–97
EU Commission (2018) Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament
on the implementation of Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters
against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources based on Member State reports
for the period 2012–2015. COM(2018) 257
European Commission (2006) Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 – and beyond – sustaining
ecosystem services for human well-being. COM(2006) 216
European Commission (2011a) Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the
Council establishing rules for direct payments to farmers under support schemes within the
framework of the common agricultural policy. COM(2011) 625
European Commission (2011b) Impact assessment
European Commission (2016) Mapping and analysis of the implementation of the CAP: 2016
implementation report. European Commission, Brussels
European Commission (2017) The future of food and farming. COM(2017) 650
European Commission (2018) Proposal for a regulation of the European parliament and of the
council establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States
under the Common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European
Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural
Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European
Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013 of the European Parliament
and of the Council. COM/2018/392
European Commission (2019) Reflection paper: towards a sustainable Europe by 2030.
COM(2019) 22
European Council (2014) Conclusions on 2030 climate and energy policy framework.
European Council
Agriculture in the European Union: Seven More Years of Environmental Austerity?