In the dispute over the planned tightening of the fertilizer ordinance, the coalition is planning to help farmers financially with the "farmer billion". The money is to be made available for agri-environmental programs and investments.
In view of the severe upheavals due to the planned tightening of the fertilizer ordinance, the grand coalition is planning billions in aid for the farmers: In order to support the farmers in the upcoming transformation process, a total of one billion euros will be made available for agri-environmental programs and investments within four years the resolution paper of the coalition leaders from early morning.
CSU boss Markus Soder spoke of a "peasant billion". "It’s about a clear signal of appreciation and support in difficult times," said Soder. One fights for the avoidance of hardship in the fertilizer regulation. But if changes are necessary, the money should then be a help, for example for the purchase of new slurry systems.
Tightening of the fertilizer regulation after an EU lawsuit
Because nitrate levels in groundwater have been too high for years, the EU Commission sued Germany at the European Court of Justice and won the case – Berlin must therefore address further fertilization restrictions. The environment and agriculture ministries have sent proposals for this to Brussels. Farmers all over Germany have protested vehemently against it for a long time.
The farmers’ association recently called for the economic challenges for farmers to be taken into account, for monitoring stations to be checked and for stricter requirements only to be applied where there was really a need for action. In their decision paper, the coalition leaders state that the two ministries would complete a draft for the implementation of the fertilizer ordinance by Friday, "with the aim of averting a lawsuit in the second proceedings for the fertilizer ordinance."
Also agreements to strengthen the labor market
The leaders of the grand coalition have also agreed on a number of measures to strengthen the labor market and Germany as a business location. A longer period of withdrawal for short-time allowance in sectors with structural problems, tax incentives for investments in future technologies and support for the transformation process in the auto industry were some of the decisions.
The chairmen of the CDU, SPD and CSU assessed this as evidence of the ability of the grand coalition to act. No agreement has yet been reached on how to deal with the record budget surplus.