The Land Cover Annual Topic Update 1999 provides an overview of progress made in 1999 on monitoring, data collection, information, assessement and reporting on land cover related environmental issues. Special attention is given to the plans for updating the CORINE land cover (CLC) database and...

Farmland supports many habitats and species of European conservation concern. In 2003, Europe's environment ministers agreed to identify all farmland areas with high nature value and take conservation measures. This report shows that these areas cover roughly 15-25 % of the European countryside...

Agriculture is a key influence on the environment in the acceding countries. This report reviews the pressures from agriculture on water, soil and air. It also shows the importance of agricultural management for biodiversity and landscapes. Introduction of the CAP will bring positive and...

Increasing the use of renewable energies offers significant opportunities for Europe to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and secure its energy supply. However, the substantial rise in the use of biomass from agriculture, forestry and waste for producing energy might put additional pressure on...

This report provides technical background for the estimation of the environmentally compatible bioenergy potential from agriculture that the EEA published in 2006. It also gives information on agri-environmental pressures that explain the environmental conditions in the EEA scenario. Finally,...

This study evaluate ex-post the effectiveness and, where possible, the effects of implementing the Structural and Cohesion Funds in the environment within three pilot countries namely Italy, Spain and Austria.

The EU has highlighted the importance of using the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) to prevent the abandonment of high nature value farmland and its intensification as a key action to halt biodiversity decline. The present report sets out to assess whether the current distribution of CAP funds is...

This study undertakes an analysis of the environmental dimensions of territorial cohesion and of related EU policies. It is intended to contribute to and support external processes including the European Commission's Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion, revision of the EU budget (e.g. regarding...

This study undertakes an analysis of the environmental dimensions of territorial cohesion and of related EU policies. It is intended to contribute to and support external processes including the European Commission's Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion, revision of the EU budget (e.g. regarding...

Developments in land use patterns across Europe are generating considerable concern, particularly in relation to achievement of environmental goals. Land use trends — such as urban sprawl and land abandonment — are jeopardising the future for sustainable land use. Moreover, these trends...