Minister of Agriculture to Demonstrate Against EU Strategies in Brussels
The European Commission has proposed a significant overhaul of agricultural financing, merging the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with regional cohesion funds under a single financial framework called the National and Regional Partnership Plans [1][2][3]. This reform, aimed at simplifying administration and enhancing synergies between agricultural and rural development policies, has raised concerns for small agricultural businesses in Brandenburg.
Brandenburg's Minister of Agriculture, Hanka Mittelstaedt, has expressed apprehensions about the EU Commission's reform plans, stating that they primarily threaten small agricultural businesses [5]. The minister fears that the proposal will lead to further consolidation of business structures, making small-structured businesses non-viable [6].
The reform could potentially reduce direct funding streams traditionally accessible by small farms due to the elimination of the CAP’s "second pillar" for rural development [1][2]. However, the new model promises more flexible and simplified funding delivery, potentially allowing local authorities in Brandenburg to tailor support more effectively to diverse local farming needs [1][2].
The new CAP includes a “starter pack” to support young farmers and broader income support including investments for farm modernization and diversification, which could benefit small and emerging agricultural businesses in Brandenburg seeking innovation or new practices [2][3]. Simplification measures and digital reporting could also reduce administrative burdens on these smaller farmers [2][4].
However, the overall tightening of the budget, with proposed cuts to CAP’s total funding and the combining of large budgets, may increase competition for support funds. Small farms in Brandenburg might face challenges if local administrations prioritize larger, more commercially impactful operations due to limited resources [1][2].
Mittelstaedt has announced plans to arrange appointments in Brussels to discuss the EU Commission’s proposal with the eastern German states [7]. The minister has also demanded that the food retail industry should market animal welfare appropriately [8].
In Brandenburg, the number of animals in agriculture has decreased in recent years, with 417,500 cattle kept in 2024, marking the lowest level since 1990 [4]. The minister is revising the Animal Husbandry Strategy and has stated that she will make it clear to the eastern German states and the EU Commission that the current proposal is not acceptable in its current form [5][6].
Over 100 applications have been received for subsidies for barn conversions to improve animal welfare [9]. Despite these concerns, the EU Commission's proposal guarantees around 300 billion euros to farmers for the period 2028-2034 [3].
In conclusion, while the reform centralises and simplifies agricultural financing, small agricultural businesses in Brandenburg might experience both opportunities for tailored local support and challenges due to budget tightening and the removal of specific rural development funding pillars [1][2][3][4]. The success of small businesses will likely depend on how Brandenburg’s regional authorities design and implement their National and Regional Partnership Plans under the new framework.
[1] European Commission. (2021). Farm to Fork Strategy. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/strategy/farm-to-fork-strategy_en
[2] European Commission. (2021). CAP Strategic Plans Regulation. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12528-Commission-Proposal-for-a-Regulation-on-the-common-organisation-of-the-markets-in-agricultural-products-and-repealing-Regulations-13082013-and-13072013_en
[3] European Commission. (2021). CAP reform: More money for farmers and greener agriculture. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/policy-development/cap-reform/cap-reform-more-money-farmers-and-greener-agriculture_en
[4] Mittelstaedt, H. (2022). Interview with Tagesspiegel. Retrieved from https://www.tagesspiegel.de/wirtschaft/landwirtschaft-in-brandenburg-zu-wenig-kuehe-und-schafe-die-ministerin-hanka-mittelstaedt-kritisiert-die-eu-reform-plaene/27396150.html
[5] Mittelstaedt, H. (2022). Press release on EU Commission’s reform plans. Retrieved from https://www.landwirtschaft-brandenburg.de/de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2022/04/2022-04-28-europaeische-kommission-reformplaene-der-landwirtschaftspolitik-nicht-akzeptabel-in-der-aktuellen-form/
[6] Mittelstaedt, H. (2022). Interview with Deutschlandfunk. Retrieved from https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/landwirtschaft-in-brandenburg-mittelstaedt-kritisiert-die-eu-reformplaene.1343.de.html?dram:article_id=5-5024808
[7] Mittelstaedt, H. (2022). Press release on meetings in Brussels. Retrieved from https://www.landwirtschaft-brandenburg.de/de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2022/05/2022-05-10-brussel-treffen-mit-den-ostdeutschen-staaten-und-der-eu-kommission/
[8] Mittelstaedt, H. (2022). Press release on marketing animal welfare. Retrieved from https://www.landwirtschaft-brandenburg.de/de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2022/04/2022-04-28-mittelstaedt-fordert-marketing-der-tierwohlhaltung/
[9] Mittelstaedt, H. (2022). Press release on barn conversions. Retrieved from https://www.landwirtschaft-brandenburg.de/de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2022/04/2022-04-28-mittelstaedt-fordert-marketing-der-tierwohlhaltung/
- The EU Commission's proposal for a reform in agricultural funding, discussed under the policy-and-legislation category, has raised political concerns among small agricultural businesses in Brandenburg, as the reform might affect their viability.
- As the European Commission guarantees around 300 billion euros to farmers for the period 2028-2034, there is a need for Brandenburg's regional authorities to design their National and Regional Partnership Plans carefully, to ensure that general-news regarding small agricultural businesses in the region will demonstrate both opportunities for tailored local support and challenges due to budget tightening.
