Germany: The government approves a new package of measures for farmers

2024-06-26 11:27:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Germany: The government approves a new package of measures for farmers

Protest, source: Florian Gaertner/photothek/IMAGO

The coalition government in Berlin has agreed to new reforms in agriculture. The package of measures is a reaction to farmers' protests at the beginning of the year. According to parliamentary group leaders Rolf Mützenich (SPD), Britta Hasselmann (Greens) and Christian Dürr (FDP), the measures aim to ease the burden on farms and strengthen the competitiveness of German agriculture.

Stronger position in trade

A central component of the package is therefore red tape reduction. "For this, we have analyzed almost 200 proposals from the federal states", clarified the heads of the parliamentary groups. Representatives of the SPD, the Greens and the FDP also announced that part of the package was the reduction of taxes on income from agriculture and forestry. smoothing the profit tax, an average profit over a three-year period is taken as a basis, instead of the actual annual profit.This allows farmers to better compensate income from good and bad years.

In addition, pasture-fed livestock will receive additional support under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy. A change in the law aims to strengthen the position of farmers vis-à-vis sellers, for example.

Protest, source: Patrick Pleul/dpa/picture alliance

The Bundestag will vote next week

Implementation is now the task of the federation and the states. The agricultural package is expected to be approved in the Bundestag next week, Mützenich explained.

The head of the parliamentary group of liberals FDP, Christian Dürr, stated that the farmers had rightly expressed their displeasure at the beginning of the year. "As a coalition, we agreed to launch an important relief package for farmers," said the politician.

Government withdraws plans for cuts

The background of the reform package is farmers' protests. The reason was the plan to cut agricultural oil subsidies, which the federal government announced late last year.

Since then, the federal government has withdrawn some of the planned cuts. The removal of the subsidy for agricultural oil has also been extended to three years. The coalition also announced that before the summer it would take steps to ease the burden on farmers.

Protest, source: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa/picture alliance

Rukwied insists on 'fresh start'

The president of the farmers, Joachim Rukwied, again sharply criticized the federal government. "What we need is a fresh start," he said. Berlin must deliver results once and for all in order not to go back on its word, he urged at the Farmer's Day in Cottbus.

The coalition government has made many promises in response to the massive farmers' protests, Rukwied said. However, it still has to deliver in many areas. Politicians must now refocus on farm competitiveness and food security. Issues such as climate protection, biodiversity and animal welfare can be integrated here. According to farmers' representatives, protests around Farmers' Day can be expected again in Cottbus. "There might be one or two nice little surprises," said Rukwied./ DW