This week in Berlin, CDU and SPD are meeting in 16 specialized committees to discuss a coalition agreement, following last week's consensus on the two main topics: the financing of continued support for Ukraine and the necessary 500 billion euros for an economic stimulus. A two-thirds majority is required for the needed constitutional amendment, which will be supported by the Greens.
Last week, the Greens were promised 100 billion euros for ‘sustainable economic investments’ in exchange for their agreement. This additional funding must not come at the expense of existing budget items and cannot be used for already ongoing projects. However, CDU and SPD will decide this week where exactly the funds will be allocated.
In the first CDU-SPD list of discussion topics for the coming week, there is, so far, only one sentence regarding agriculture: that the cheap ‘red’ diesel will be reintroduced. It also states that Germany will agree to the Mercosur trade agreement and will adhere to EU rules on nature, environment, and sustainability in Brussels.
Regarding the need to transition to more modern and larger stables (and greater animal welfare) in livestock farming, the broadly composed Borchert specialized committee presented detailed proposals five years ago. The now-defunct center-left ‘traffic light coalition’ could not agree on how these measures should be co-funded (by the government, taxpayers, or consumers).
The two ZKL chairs warn that this situation risks repeating itself. Regina Birner and Achim Spiller caution against a ‘pendulum politics’ approach that—rather than solving problems—only reacts to what is currently topical. They warn: no problem disappears if ignored. It will certainly return.
Therefore, the ZKL members propose to partly finance the agricultural transition by increasing VAT on food products. This would put the introduction of a ‘meat tax’ off the table.
What else will be included in an agricultural section of the CDU and SPD coalition agreement remains unclear. To the great dissatisfaction of the German Farmers' Association (DBV), it has already been decided to raise the minimum wage to 15 euros per hour. This higher wage is problematic for mostly East-European seasonal pickers in sensitive sectors such as vegetable and fruit cultivation and viticulture.
Moreover, the fact that CDU/CSU voted against most agricultural proposals during their years in opposition but hardly submitted their own is also significant. It is still completely unclear what the new black-red coalition will do with the ‘fertilizer law’ which has been dormant for five years and which many CDU-led federal states only reluctantly cooperate with.
Additionally, a large number of proposals already submitted by outgoing BMEL Minister Cem Özdemir are still pending at the Berlin negotiation tables. The Greens have no guarantee that these proposals will reach the finish line (with the extra 100 billion?), or whether they will be shelved by a new (CDU-?) Agriculture Minister.