The horizontal measures of Agenda 2000 (article 4) opens the possibility to the member states to implement a modulation of the compensatory payments. A comparative analysis of the development of direct payments from 1991 to 2008 between farms in France and Germany and of their modulation is assessed within this study. Based on data of the Farm Accountancy Data Network (fadn), this work includes the specification of simulation models for the assessment of Agenda 2000 and of the French scheme of modulation.
