Germany’s 16 federal states united in opposition to European Commission proposals aiming to integrate the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) into a broader “super fund,” consolidating agricultural subsidies with cohesion and other regional development funds, according to Euractiv.
Agriculture ministers from across Germany endorsed a joint resolution during talks in Berlin, fortifying the national position before critical EU negotiations. The resolution, backed by nine Christian Democrat, three Green, and three Social Democrat ministers alongside Federal Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer, demands the retention of a distinct CAP budget and rejects its absorption into a unified funding mechanism.
Peter Hauk, Baden-Württemberg’s agriculture minister and chair of the meeting, emphasised that merging CAP into a larger fund would be “entirely the wrong path for European farmers.” He stressed that such integration risks diluting targeted support for agriculture, which remains vital for income stability, biodiversity, and rural resilience.
The resolution calls for predictable EU financing, greater spending flexibility tailored to Germany’s diverse agricultural regions, and simplified bureaucracy. Ministers specifically urged bolstering direct payments and rural development funding (EAFRD) to protect small-scale farms and advance environmental and climate goals.
However, Green ministers partially dissented, with Lower Saxony’s Miriam Staudte advocating for stronger commitments to the Farm-to-Fork Strategy, including pesticide reduction and food waste targets.
I would also have liked to see a clear commitment to initiatives such as the Farm-to-Fork Strategy.
The states’ defiance coincides with Germany’s proposed domestic agriculture budget for 2025, which slightly reduces ministry funding to €6.88 billion, down from €6.93 billion in 2024. While overall spending tightens, funding for livestock farming reforms will rise by €50 million to €200 million, reflecting shifting national priorities amid broader fiscal pressures.
The resolution underscores tensions between EU centralisation ambitions and regional demands for subsidiarity. As Brussels prepares its multiannual financial framework (MFF) package, Germany’s collective stance—blending fiscal conservatism with agricultural advocacy—sets a defiant tone for negotiations.
