Le Politiche Agricolo-Ambientali nell'Unione Europea. Risultati di un'indagine in otto paesi

The paper develops a theoretical framework for the classification of agro-environmental policies and related countryside stewardship measures. The provision of positive as well as negative externalities linked to farming and the related environment is analysed according to the public/private goods theory and the Production Possibility Curve. The definition of reference points and boundaries between positive and negative externalities made up by farming, forestry and the related environment is discussed. The paper continues with the presentation of the results of a survey of 351 agro-environmental policies in eight EU countries, i.e. Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom. It is shown that the core of European agro-environmental policieare formed of multi-objective and voluntary measures which are also usually temporary and compensated through public funds. The role of long established agro-environmental policie, which are included within property rights and very near to ethical values, is also stressed. The paper concludes by showing how current agro-environmental policieare affected by unclear definition of objectives as well as ill understood boundaries between positive and negative externalities. It is, however, acknowledged that current agro-environmental policiehave initiated a process that in the medium-long term should allow a more comprehensive and effective environmental policy for rural areas.