Report shows EU lagging in integrating water policy goals into common agricultural policy

摘要

Areport published recently by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) reveals that the EU has had only partial success in integrating its water policy goals into the common agricultural policy (CAP). The audit highlighted weaknesses in the two instruments currently used in this integration process -cross compliance, a mechanism that links some CAP payments with specific environmental requirements, and the rural development fund, which provides financial incentives for actions that go beyond compulsory legislation to improve water quality.