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Deciding how to decide on agri-environmental schemes: the political economy of subsidiarity, decentralisation and participation in the European Union

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  • Volker Beckmann
  • Jorg Eggers
  • Evy Mettepenningen

Abstract

Since 1992 the provision of agri-environmental schemes (AESs) has been obligatory for member states of the European Union. However, decisions concerning the actual design of schemes and measures are left to member states who have to integrate this policy within their administrative structures and to comply with the general rules laid down in the EU rural development regulations. Over time, the respective council regulations have increasingly encouraged member states to design agri-environmental policy in a sub-national, decentralised and participatory way. However, the response to these opportunities has been quite diverse amongst the member states. This paper presents the results of a unique expert survey in nine different member states, focusing on decentralisation and participation. The results show that the way in which decisions are made affects the environmental effectiveness of AES. In particular, the involvement of actors at a local level and the participation of environmental NGOs have a positive effect on the environmental effectiveness of AES. Therefore, it is not surprising that most actors involved in decision making surrounding AESs are in favour of further decentralisation and participation in order to tackle agri-environmental problems. However, actors from the agricultural administration and agricultural associations, which are the most influential groups in terms of the design of AESs, oppose extending participation to the local level and to environmental associations.

Suggested Citation

  • Volker Beckmann & Jorg Eggers & Evy Mettepenningen, 2009. "Deciding how to decide on agri-environmental schemes: the political economy of subsidiarity, decentralisation and participation in the European Union," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(5), pages 689-716.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:jenpmg:v:52:y:2009:i:5:p:689-716
    DOI: 10.1080/09640560902958289
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    1. Wallace E. Oates & Paul R. Portney & Wallace E. Oates & Paul R. Portney, 2004. "The Political Economy of Environmental Policy," Chapters, in: Environmental Policy and Fiscal Federalism, chapter 1, pages 3-30, Edward Elgar Publishing.
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    7. Bareille, F. & Zavalloni, M., 2018. "Agri-environmental policy decentralization: theoretical analysis and application to abandoned wetland in Brittany," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 277109, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
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    11. Targetti, Stefano & Viaggi, Davide & Cuming, David, 2011. "A comparative cost-effectiveness analysis of biodiversity indicators in grassland farming systems," 2011 International Congress, August 30-September 2, 2011, Zurich, Switzerland 116077, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    12. Pérez-Sánchez, Cristina & Pierri-Daunt, Ana Beatriz & Villamayor-Tomas, Sergio, 2024. "Unraveling spatial agglomeration patterns in agri-environmental schemes: Evidence from the improvement of steppe habitats in the Natura 2000 network in Catalonia (Spain)," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    13. Mettepenningen, E. & Beckmann, V. & Eggers, J., 2011. "Public transaction costs of agri-environmental schemes and their determinants--Analysing stakeholders' involvement and perceptions," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(4), pages 641-650, February.
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    17. Thiel, Andreas & Schleyer, Christian & Hinkel, Jochen & Schlüter, Maja & Hagedorn, Konrad & Bisaro, Sandy & Bobojonov, Ihtiyor & Hamidov, Ahmad, 2016. "Transferring Williamson's discriminating alignment to the analysis of environmental governance of social-ecological interdependence," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 159-168.
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