EU auditors: CAP should take better account of water issues

The EU must do more to successfully integrate water policy goals into the common agricultural policy (CAP), a report has found.

Published yesterday by the European Court of Auditors (ECA), the report found that there were delays and weaknesses in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, an EU legislation which sets out minimum pollution maintenance requirements, for water-bodies including  rivers, lakes and coastal waters in the EU by 2015.

Currently, just 27per cent of water-bodies in England are classified as being of ‘good status’ under standards set out in the Water Framework Directive.

The auditors recommended that the Commission and Member states address the delays by “describing individual measures and making them sufficiently clear and concrete at an operational level”.

Kevin Cardiff, the ECA member responsible for the report, said: “In Europe, agriculture is, quite naturally, a major user of water – around one-third of total water use, and is a source of pressure on water resources, for example through nutrient pollution in water.”

“While there has been progress, the Commission and Member States need to better integrate water policy concerns with the common agricultural policy to ensure long-term sustainable water use.”

The CAP makes up almost 40 per cent of the EU budget, amounting to more than €50 billion for 2014.

The auditors also found limitations in cross-compliance, a mechanism linking CAP payments with specific environmental requirements, and the rural development fund, which provides for financial incentives for actions going beyond compulsory legislation to improve water quality.

They argued that there was insufficient knowledge about the pressures placed on water by agricultural activities.

Cardiff added: “Member States need to do more to align their Rural Development Programmes and their actions to protect their water resources, and delays in implementing the Water Framework Directive need to be addressed.

“While feedback already received from the Commission is positive, there is plenty yet to be done.”