The Common Agricultural Policy and the environmental challenge: Instruments, problems and opportunities from different perspectives.

Book abstract:

This book gives an overview of issues concerning the integration of environment policy into the Common Agricultural Policy. The basis of the book is a conference organised by the European Institute of Public Administration in Maastricht in May 2001 entitled 'The Common Agricultural Policy and the Environmental Challenge - New Tasks for Public Administrations'. This was held in the aftermath of the Presidency Conclusions of the European Council in Cardiff of June 1998 when the Agricultural Council was invited to establish its own environmental strategy.

Part 1 of the book examines developments at the European level. This consists of chapters presenting the considerations of the Swedish government on the topic based on their presidency in the first half of 2001, and the view of the European Commission on sustainable development and also on the Common Agricultural Policy. A third chapter looks at differing ideas on the topic from two farmers' organisations followed by an examination of the issue within the Czech Republic - one of the EU's candidate countries. Part 2 of the book looks at the instruments to be used in making agricultural policy more environmentally friendly. Issues examined include the measurement of the impact on the environment of the Common Agricultural Policy, regulation in global trade and environmental biotechnology, and the role of the EU's strategy for increasing the share of bio-energy in agricultural policy. Final chapters look at examples from Germany where political measures have been taken to stimulate the bio-gas sector, and examples of government initiatives in Greece and Austria to stimulate organic farming.

The book would be suited to the academic community. Contributors include academics and European civil servants.