The planned reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the EU is causing growing unrest in Saxony. On Friday, the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) joined the ranks of critics and spoke of "high risks for nature and agriculture" in the Free State. "A reform of agricultural subsidies must be socially fair, ecologically effective and adapted to the agricultural structures in the federal states, and in the future, taxpayers' money should only be spent as subsidies for public services such as environmental protection," explained BUND head Felix Ekardt.
Study commissioned by the Greens warns of consequences
A recent study commissioned by the Green parliamentary group in the Saxon state parliament also warned of significant consequences for Saxony: depending on the design of the reform, direct payments could fall by 28 to 51 percent. Instead of around 164 million euros annually, only 82 to 120 million euros would reach the Free State. In addition, the federal states would have to raise more of their own money to finance agri-environmental measures. For Saxony, this would result in an additional funding requirement of around 34 million euros per year.
Günther: Take greater account of East German concerns
Saxony's former Agriculture Minister Wolfram Günther called for greater account to be taken of East German concerns in the European debate. "The EU Commission's reform plans put Saxony and eastern Germany at a structural disadvantage. Anyone who wants a level playing field must not ignore regional differences in agricultural structures," emphasized the former Minister of Agriculture. "If environmental services depend on tight state budgets in future, nature and climate protection will become a bargaining chip. This is the wrong path for sustainable agriculture."
