For this group of countries, the potential consequences for water quality of the projected growth in agricultural production might include (trends may vary within and across countries) the following. Within the EU27, however, there could be some diverging trends, with the agricultural sector continuing to contract in many of the former EU15 countries, but expanding in some of the new EU member states (European Environment Agency, 2010). In addition, crop and livestock production could undergo further intensification and concentration of production on less land to maintain increases in productivity and profitability. For this group of countries, the potential consequences for water quality of the projected low growth or decrease in agricultural production might include (trends may vary within and across countries) the following.