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Key messages

• Currently a large share of surface and groundwater bodies are not achieving good status as required by the Water Framework Directive, in part due to pressures from agricultural activities. Although point source pollution, nitrogen surplus and water abstraction have been reduced, freshwaters continue to be affected by diffuse pollution, water abstraction, and hydromorphological pressures. 
• Diffuse pollution of nutrients and chemicals from agriculture remain a significant pressure to one third of surface and groundwater bodies in Europe, and are a main pressure to Europe’s seas. Water abstraction for irrigation accounts for up to 80% of water abstracted in in parts of Europe, and water storage, drainage and land reclamation projects are linked to considerable hydromorphological pressures.
• Pressures are not uniformly distributed across Europe, but are higher in Western and Southern Europe, and lower in Eastern Europe. A multiple pressure analysis indicates a relationship between more agricultural pressures and intensity of the agricultural production.