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| Titel |
Co-operative agreements and the EU Water Framework Directive in conjunction with the Common Agricultural Policy |
| VerfasserIn |
I. Heinz |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
1027-5606
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ; 12, no. 3 ; Nr. 12, no. 3 (2008-05-09), S.715-726 |
| Datensatznummer |
250010653
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/hess-12-715-2008.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| This paper discusses the significance of voluntary arrangements for the
water and agricultural policies in the European Union. The current
implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the
reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) require new approaches in
water management. As many case studies have shown, co-operative agreements
(CAs) between water companies, farmers and authorities can help to reduce
environmental pressures on water bodies. The main reasons for that are: i)
water companies are ready to advise and financially support farmers in
changing production methods; ii) changes of farming practices are tailored
to the site-specific requirements; iii) farmers and water companies are
interested in minimising the costs and environmental pressures as they
benefit, for example, from modernization of farming methods, and reductions
in cost of water treatment, and iv) voluntarily agreed commitments to change
farming practices are often stricter than statutory rules. Moreover,
precautionary rather than remedial measures are preferred. Tackling diffuse
pollution is one of the main concerns of the WFD. CAs can enhance the
cost-effectiveness of actions within the programmes of measures so that good
water status is achieved by 2015. In CAs all relevant stakeholders, located
in catchment areas of agricultural usage, can be involved. Thus, they can
help to foster integrated water resources management. In particular,
disproportionate costs of changing farming practices can be identified. With
regard to the recent CAP reform, financial support for farmers will be
linked to compliance with environmental standards and further commitments.
This concerns both direct payments and agri-environmental programmes. The
experience gained in CAs can provide information on best agricultural
practices. Informed farmers are more ready to meet environmental
requirements. Because CAs implement the most cost-effective changes in
farming practice, it can be assumed that farmers will not face considerable
costs due to the new EU water and agricultural policies. Some examples of
CAs are described and the significance of CAs in the implementation of the
WFD and CAP reform will be highlighted. The article closes with an outlook
on the needs of future research activities. |
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