Direct and indirect data needs linked to the farms for agri-environmental indicators

From the end of the 1980s, an increasing number of agri-environmental policy measures have been implemented in the EU. These agri-environmental Strategies, Directives and Regulations often address specific agri-environmental aspects, i.e. specific components of the biosphere (air, surface waters, groundwater, natural environments), specific substances (greenhouse gas emissions, ammonia, nitrate, pesticides) and specific themes (biodiversity, rural development, renewable energy, etc.). These agrienvironmental policies often have their own implementation, evaluation and reporting procedures. Member States are obliged to comply with all approved Strategies, Directives and Regulations, and have to report on the progress made with the implementation of these policy measures on a regular basis. Recently, a process has started for streamlining the reporting needs for the various policy measures, but the benefits of this process have not been cashed yet. The overall aim of this task was to analyse the reporting needs of other EU policies that relate to Agri- Environment Indicators (AEI(s)) and require the collection of related data. There are a range of Agri-Environment related policies operating within the EU. These policies collect data that may complement the needs of the AEIs, or conversely may benefit from data collection strategies developed to meet the needs of the AEIs. This task provides information that will help to harmonise these strategies, identify overlaps, useful synergies and any potential conflicts in AEI and related data collection.