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WWF: EU subsidizes environmental destruction

by AI | 15.May 2024 | Europe in brief AI

The World Wildlife Fund, in a new report, directs sharp criticism at primarily the EU’s agricultural policy, arguing that billions are spent on measures that harm biodiversity.

Swedish agricultural land. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

EU member countries annually spend up to 560 billion Swedish kronor on measures that harm biodiversity. At least that’s what the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) thinks in a new report that sharply criticizes, above all, EU’s agricultural policy.

“Every year, more than 30 billion euros from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) go to measures that damage nature and do not support the farmers … This should be a wake-up call”, says Tycho Vandermaesen at WWF’s European office in a press release.

In addition to agriculture, WWF also points the finger at EU support for the fishing, transportation industry and the management of waterways, canals, and dams, contributing to up to 48 billion euros – 560 billion kronor – each year going to nature-damaging activities.

The organization is now urging the EU and member countries to adopt a binding plan to ensure a phase-out of subsidies that harm biodiversity.

(May 14)