European Commission opens 12-week public consultation on greening measures

The European Commission has launched a 12-week public consultation on the greening measures introduced in the 2013 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Comprising three environmentally-friendly agricultural practices — ecological focus area, crop diversification and maintaining permanent pasture — greening has applied from the start of 2015 and is linked to 30% of CAP direct payments.

At the time of the reform, it was agreed the Commission should review the rules about the Ecological Focus Area after the first year of application.