East German farmers' associations criticize EU plans

The farmers' associations of the eastern German federal states have sharply criticized the EU plans for a reform in the distribution of agricultural subsidies. The plans are a "slap in the face", said Thomas Thiele from the Saxon Farmers' Association with regard to the limitation and reduction of subsidies above certain levels. "Nowhere else did farms have to be built up as vigorously and laboriously after German reunification as here in East Germany." Now subsidies are being cut, which, according to the correct calculation, should be reaching the companies.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented long-term plans for the European budget from 2028 to 2034 on Wednesday. Although this envisages an overall increase in the budget of 700 billion euros to two trillion euros, farmers are only to be guaranteed around 300 billion euros for this period, which corresponds to a reduction of around 20 percent.

Reproach: Food security of the people endangered

"The fact that the Commission arbitrarily sets criteria for who is in need and who is not is like a prank," said the Vice President of the Saxony-Anhalt Farmers' Association, Sven Borchert. The Commission must change its proposals back to the current system, demanded the President of the Thuringian Farmers' Association, Klaus Wagner. "The rural areas are our backbone." The Brandenburg Farmers' Association accused the EU Commission of jeopardizing people's food security.

According to the EU Commission's plans, various funding pots are to be merged. Each EU country is to draw up its own so-called National Reform and Investment Plan. In this plan, the countries themselves can also decide to give farmers more money than is specified by Brussels.

Saxony-Anhalt's Agriculture Minister Sven Schulze, a CDU member like Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, also criticized the plans. He spoke of a radical restructuring at the expense of farmers.