Abstract
Agri-environmental measures are a key element for the integration of environmental concerns into the Common Agricultural Policy. They are designed to encourage farmers to protect and enhance the environment on their farmland by paying them for the provision of environmental services. Farmers commit themselves, for a minimum period of at least five years, to adopt environmentally friendly farming techniques that go beyond legal obligations. In return, farmers receive payments that provide compensation for additional costs and losses of income resulting from applying those environmentally friendly farming practices in line with the stipulations of agri-environmental contracts. Agri-environmental measures may be designed at national, regional or local level so that they can be adapted to the particular farming systems and environmental conditions, which vary greatly throughout the EU. This makes agri-environment a potentially precise tool for achieving environmental goals.