AUTHORS: Tamsin Cooper – Håkon By – Matt Rayment

This paper evaluates the case for using state intervention to reverse existing environmental degradation and deliver improvements, before focusing specifically on the rationale for intervening at the European level. It argues for the ‘added value’ of an EU-wide environmental policy framework, with a proportion of funding originating from a common budget. It asserts that re-orientating the CAP post 2013, so that it supports the provision of environmental goods and services, strengthens the case for having a common policy at EU level.