Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 provides for a number of elements and tools for Member States to address the specific objective of contributing to halting and reversing biodiversity loss, enhancing ecosystem services and preserving the habitats and landscapes referred to in Article 6(1), point (f), of that Regulation. One of those elements is the system of conditionality. In particular, GAEC standard 8, as listed in Annex III to that Regulation, comprises several requirements, including an obligation to devote a certain share of arable land to non-productive areas and features. The main objective of GAEC standard 8 is the maintenance of non-productive features and areas to improve on-farm biodiversity. Member States are also able to design interventions supporting that objective, such as eco-schemes to cover actions pursuant to Article 31 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115. In the context of the challenges and uncertainties arising from the concurrence of adverse events and economic uncertainties, experience has shown a need to adjust the balance between the different policy tools contributing to the protection and enhancement of biodiversity to give more flexibility to farmers to contribute to achieving that objective depending on the specific situation of their holdings and to provide enhanced financial compensation for such contribution.
Text as published in the Official Journal, reproduced verbatim (including any typographical quirks of the source). For the authentic version, see EUR-Lex.
