The Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy: Meeting the Environmental Challenge

Abstract

Article 11 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) currently provides that protection requirements must be integrated into the definition and implementation of the Union policies and activities, in particular with a view to promoting sustainable In practice, European environmental law and policy is wide ranging in scope. It includes pollution control, the protection of biodiversity and the need to address climate change. To focus on one of these areas, the EU has given itself the target of halting biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystem services by 2020. Its biodiversity strategy acknowledges the European Union's reformed Commn Agricultural Policy will have a key role to play if this target is to be met. Against this background, this paper examines the developing proposals to reform European Agricultural Law in relation to the ongoing process of integrating environmental protection requirements into the Common Agricultural Policy. In particular, the paper focuses upon the function of cross compliance and of the proposed greening component in incorporating environmental issues within the direct payments regime under pillar one of the Common Agricultural Policy. It also examines the effectiveness of theagri-environment and natural handicap schemes within rural development.