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Guidance handbook for financing Natura 2000
An updated ‘Financing Natura 2000 Guidance Handbook’ aims to inform national stakeholders about opportunities for financing the management of Natura 2000 sites through various EU funds during the 2014-2020 period.
agri-environment
agriculture
biodiversity
Birds Directive
CAP
cohesion policy
Common Fisheries Policy
ecological network
ecosystem services
EU funding
European Fisheries Fund
financial instruments
green economy
Habitats Directive
high nature value
marine protected areas
market based instruments
Natura 2000
nature conservation
payment for ecosystem services
protected area
structural funds11 Sep 2014 -
Sustainable intensification of European agriculture
The concept of sustainable intensification has come into prominence in the context of global food security. This report defines what we mean by sustainable intensification, explains its global logic, discusses what it means for EU agriculture and exemplifies this in three case studies for soil performance, nutrient recycling and biodiversity.
agri-environment
agriculture
biodiversity
CAP
climate change
ecosystem services
Environmental Policy Integration
food
high nature value
land use
Less Favoured Areas
livestock
natural resources
organic farming
policy instruments
public goods
resource use
sustainability criteria
sustainable consumption and production25 Jul 2014 -
High Nature Value farming throughout EU-27 and its financial support under the CAP
This study reviews Member States’ estimates of the extent of HNV farmland and use of RDP measures and the CMEF indicators, then identifies future priorities for CAP support for HNV farming and discusses the support opportunities under the reformed CAP. It offers detailed new evidence about the combined effect of Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 CAP payments on the economic and environmental viability of a typical HNV farming system in three Member States.
agriculture
biodiversity
Biodiversity Action Plan
Birds Directive
CAP
climate change
cross-compliance
ecosystems
Environmental Policy Integration
EU funding
financial instruments
grassland
Habitats Directive
high nature value
indicators
land use
livestock
Natura 2000
natural resources
nature conservation
organic farming
payment for ecosystem services
public goods
soil
subsidiarity16 May 2014 -
New report: High Nature Value Farming in the EU
Member States need to make the most of the opportunities under the new Common Agricultural Policy if the declines in HNV farming, critical for meeting our 2020 biodiversity targets, are to be halted.
agri-environment
agriculture
biodiversity
Birds Directive
CAP
climate change
cross-compliance
ecosystems
EU funding
grassland
Habitats Directive
high nature value
land use
livestock
Natura 2000
organic farming
payment for ecosystem services
soil16 May 2014 -
Environment undermined in CAP deal
An attempt by the European Commission to place the environment more centrally within agricultural policy has been comprehensively watered down in the final agreement.
agri-environment
agriculture
CAP26 Jun 2013 -
Land as an Environmental Resource
How can we meet the different and often conflicting demands we make on our limited supply of rural land in Europe? A more strategic approach to the way in which land is used is needed than has been the case in the past. This report for DG Environment looks at the data, the challenges and the policy options for Europe.
agriculture
bioenergy
biofuels
CAP
climate change
ecosystem services
forestry
natural resources
policy instruments
renewable energy
resource use01 May 2013 -
A greener CAP: still within reach?
The greening of the CAP hangs in the balance in the final negotiations; a synthesis of key issues and requirements.
agri-environment
agriculture
CAP
cross-compliance
EU budget
EU funding
EU institutions
governance
grassland
land use
public goods29 Apr 2013 -
Greening the CAP - how ‘equivalent’ are alternative approaches?
A contentious issue in the negotiations on the future of the CAP is how to implement the proposed new green direct payments to farmers. However, proposals to increase flexibility for Member States will not necessarily be administratively any simpler and may risk weakening environmental outcomes.
agri-environment
agriculture
CAP16 Apr 2013 -
A greener EU budget in the balance: the 2014-2020 MFF deal
What are the implications of the EU budget deal for policies which shape the sustainability of European society? Many of them have been severely challenged or cut disproportionately. At the same time some important commitments have been made, like devoting 20 per cent of spending to climate activities.
CAP
climate change
cohesion policy
EU budget11 Mar 2013 -
Principles of Double Funding
This briefing explores the issue of double funding in relation to the CAP reform debate and considers the implications for delivering added value for the environment.
agri-environment
agriculture
briefings
CAP24 Jan 2013 -
EP vote must not undermine a greener CAP
A decade’s progress in improving the Common Agricultural Policy’s environmental credentials risks being lost if the EP vote to water down the Commission’s ambitious proposals to green the CAP.
agriculture
CAP
public goods22 Jan 2013 -
Land Stewardship in England post 2013: CAP greening and agri-environment
What will the introduction of environmental measures in Pillar 1 mean for agri-environment schemes in the future? A topic of much debate as part of the CAP reform negotiations, this new report explores the potential impacts of greening Pillar 1 on England’s entry-level agri-environment scheme and how a future scheme could be designed to deliver more for the environment and ensure the long term sustainability of farming.
agri-environment
agriculture
CAP18 Jan 2013 -
Greener or greyer: what's next for the future EU budget?
This Policy Brief analyses the outcomes of the Special Summit on the future EU budget, which took place on 22-23 November 2012.
CAP
cohesion policy
EU budget
resource use12 Dec 2012 -
The EU Water Blueprint: Assessing the policy options
The Water Blueprint proposes action to address 12 key problems for Europe’s waters. An IEEP led study found that improved guidance, information system, data exchange and funding were the best instruments to address many of these problems, with limited scope for new law.
adaptation
agri-environment
agriculture
benefits of legislation
better regulation
CAP
climate change
cohesion policy
ecosystem services
enforcement
Environmental Impact Assessment
flooding
governance
impact assessment
natural resources
resource use
water
Water Framework Directive
water quality
water scarcity15 Nov 2012 -
Designing RDPs fit for the environment
Substantial changes to rural development regulation have been proposed which provide significant opportunities for Member States to deliver more for the environment. This report highlights some of these opportunities and sets out a series of principles and environmental priorities to help guide Member States in designing their future rural development programmes.
agri-environment
agriculture
biodiversity
CAP
climate change
public goods
water quality26 Sep 2012 -
Systemic approach to adaptation to climate change and renewable energy harnessing (Biomass and Mini-hydro)
Biochar has the potential to both mitigate greenhouse gases, and to act as an adaptation measure in terms of responding to the impacts of climate change. Based on its compatibility with the appropriate soil properties, it could increase the resilience of soil to erosion.
adaptation
agriculture
bioenergy
CAP
carbon
clean development mechanism
clean technologies
climate change
emissions trading
energy
flooding
greenhouse gases
market based instruments
transport
waste15 Aug 2012 -
Maximising environmental benefits through Ecological Focus Areas
Of the three measures proposed to 'green' Pillar 1 direct payments, Ecological Focus Areas have the greatest potential to address a range of environmental concerns. How much of this potential is realised depends on a number of key factors discussed in this new IEEP report prepared at the request of the Land Use Policy Group.
agri-environment
agriculture
biodiversity
CAP
cross-compliance08 Jun 2012 -
European Parliament report on sustainable competitiveness and innovation
The CAP could, and should, be primarily to assist EU agriculture to become more internationally competitive and sustainable and to achieve this by innovation. It already has many instruments to do this, and the reforms could further assist. However the resources deployed could be far better used.
agri-environment
agriculture
CAP
EU Sustainable Development Strategy
green economy
natural resources
resource use
sustainability criteria
sustainable consumption and production05 Jun 2012 -
Mobilising Cereal Straw in the EU to Feed Advanced Biofuel Production
This IEEP report, commissioned by Novozymes, considers the existing barriers, environmental risks and opportunities and the potential agricultural policy stimuli needed in order to mobilise cereal straw for advanced biofuel production in the EU.
bioenergy
biofuels
CAP
land use
renewable energy
soil21 May 2012 -
Addressing the EU’s biodiversity goals through the CAP
What is the relationship between the management of agricultural land and biodiversity? To what extent are the EU’s biodiversity goals addressed through the CAP?
agri-environment
agriculture
biodiversity
CAP09 May 2012