One of the key elements of the latest 2003 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is compulsory compliance with environmental, food safety, animal welfare, and animal and plant health standards. Additionally it is required that farmers maintain their farmland in good agricultural and environmental condition as a condition for receiving direct payments. The project will focus on the investigation of the value-added resulting from introducing cross-compliance as a tool to improve compliance with existing standards; and the investigation of the cost implications and competition effects of compliance to EU standards on the world market.

Müssner, Rainer; Anna Leipprand; Stephanie Schlegel et al. 2006: Deliverable 6 – CROSS-COMPLIANCE Facilitating the CAP reform: Compliance and competitiveness of European agriculture – Specific Targeted Research or Innovation Project (STREP) – Integrating and Strengthening the European Research Area – Overview of certification schemes in 7 EU countries and 3 non-EU countries – Germany Country Report. Ecologic – Institute for International and European Environmental Policy, Berlin.

Müssner, Rainer; Anna Leipprand; Stephanie Schlegel et al. 2006: Deliverable 5 – CROSS-COMPLIANCE Facilitating the CAP reform: Compliance and competitiveness of European agriculture - Mandatory standards in 7 EU countries and 3 non-EU countries – Germany Country Report. Ecologic – Institute for International and European Environmental Policy, Berlin.

Müssner, Rainer; Stephanie Schlegel; Floor Brouwer et al. 2005: Deliverable 4 – CROSS-COMPLIANCE Facilitating the CAP reform: Compliance and competitiveness of European agriculture – Specific Targeted Research or Innovation Project (STREP) – Integrating and Strengthening the European Research Area. Ecologic – Institute for International and European Environmental Policy/Wageningen University & Research Centre, Agricultural Economics Institute, Berlin.