evidence: Introduction 01The European Union (EU) pays direct subsidies to farmers as part of Pillar I1 of its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). A key aim of these direct payments is to support farmers’ income. However, the CAP has come under increasing criticism for not doing enough to limit the negative effect that certain farming practices have on the environment and climate2. [...] 38Additionally, as mentioned in paragraphs 4 and 26, many holdings are exempt from the greening requirements but still receive the green payment. According to the data Member States reported to the Commission, in 2015, 76 % of EU farms, covering 27 % of all EU farmland were not subject to any greening obligations at all (see Figure 4). These figures include farmers who do not claim their land under CAP direct payments48. Among green payment recipients, a total of 65 %, farming around 16 % of the EU farmland declared for direct payments, were fully exempt from all greening obligations.