agriculture
Minister of Agriculture expects improvements in EU reform plans
Farmers are concerned: the EU is planning less agricultural funding. Minister Rainer expects improvements in Brussels.
Federal Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer (CSU) has been optimistic that there will be improvements in the controversial reform plans of the EU Commission for Agricultural Intention. “Something will definitely change,” said Rainer when visiting the Brandenburg organic farm “Ökodorf” Brodowin. “We have to be careful that there is no cannibalization around the funds.”
The European Commission wants to commit less money to farmers in the EU in the future. As can be seen from a household proposal by the Brussels authority, farmers are to be assured for the period from 2028 to 2034 around 300 billion euros – and thus over 20 percent less than in the current seven -year budget period. The Commission wants to merge the money pot for agricultural policy with budgets for other policy areas.
Rainer wants to stand up for stable EU agricultural policy in Brussels
“We need a European agricultural policy that will continue to create reliability and planning security in the future,” said Rainer. That is why he campaigned in Brussels for a joint agricultural policy of the EU (GAP), which is still “a stability anchor, a location factor and a home guarantee”. Rainer wants to work to ensure that the GAP remains an independent policy area.
A lot of criticism of agricultural associations in EU plans
The German Farmers’ Association sharply criticized the proposals from the EU Commission. Possible funding cuts were also referred to as an attack on rural areas.
Brandenburg’s Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD), who accompanied Rainer when he was visited in Brandenburg, said that the reduction and capacity proposed by the EU Commission would question the future viability of agricultural companies. The main thing is to give the companies in the country investment security.
Minister: Reducing bureaucracy is a top priority
Federal Agriculture Minister Rainer and Woidke want to continue to work for reducing bureaucracy. “This is a top priority,” said the CSU politician. High standards in agriculture are not dispensed with. But double structures and double statistics belonged to the test. Prime Minister Woidke said: “It is important that we farmers put more trust in and do not overload companies with bureaucracy.”
dpa
Source: Stern
