In Germany, the parties competing for the early elections on February 23 presented their vision of national and European agri-food policies in their programs, with a common commitment: simplification.
The electoral plans of the candidates for the next German legislative elections were published shortly after the vote of confidence in the Bundestag, lost by Olaf Scholz, on Monday December 16.
Germany is the second largest agricultural producer in the European Union (EU), and it is therefore no surprise that some parties place agricultural policies at the heart of their program. In addition, Olaf Scholz’s government was confronted in January with national demonstrations by farmers which considerably weakened it.
Euractiv examined the promises of the main opposition party, the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) and their candidate Friedrich Merz, the poll favorite, as well as the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) of ‘Olaf Scholz, and his remaining coalition partner, the Greens.
The Christian Democrats
The CDU/CSU does not hesitate to make numerous promises to farmers, whom it is actively courting in its program.
The conservative party is committed to reducing the economic and administrative burdens of the sector, using identity slogans such as “so a farmer can be a farmer again”. The party plans to reintroduce agricultural diesel subsidies that the current government had planned to phase out.
At the European level, the conservatives say they want to simplify “radically” the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and keep a budget for it ” independent “. A position that is particularly relevant given speculation about the Commission’s plans to merge it with the EU cohesion funds.
The CDU/CSU is also committed to fighting bureaucracy in Berlin and Brussels and wants the controversial trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur, negotiations for which were recently concluded, to enter into force quickly.
When it comes to sustainable development, the program aligns with the positions taken by their European family, the European People’s Party (EPP), during recent political battles. The Berne Convention authorized Brussels to lower the protection status of the wolf, and the party now plans to relax the rules relating to hunting.
The CDU/CSU also opposes the introduction of a European law on soil monitoring, currently under negotiation in Brussels and facing a strong reaction from Germany’s agricultural and mining industries. Additionally, the movement commits to removing several sustainability rules for the use of fertilizers and pesticides at the national level.
In line with what the current German government is advocating in the Council, the Conservative Party program also supports mandatory labeling of the origin of food products.
The social democrats
The SPD, which has suffered numerous criticisms from farmers during its mandate, presents significantly fewer proposals in terms of agricultural and food policy than its conservative opponents.
The objective of the socialists, however, remains similar to that of the CDU/CSU: ecological incentives and simplification rather than obligations.
“For us, the future of agriculture is digital and not bureaucratic”writes the SPD in its program. The party advocates a reform of CAP subsidies to better reward farmers who adopt ecological practices.
When it comes to food policy, the SPD supports free and healthy meals in nurseries, schools and educational institutions, thereby implementing one of the recommendations of a citizens’ panel on “nutrition in transition”.
To combat rising food prices, the Socialist Party is proposing to reduce VAT from 7% to 5% and improve price monitoring throughout the supply chain. The SPD also wants to limit the market power of dominant food retailers so that they do not increase their profit margins.
Like the conservatives, the socialists support the conclusion of the EU-Mercosur agreement, but also the negotiation of similar agreements with India and Australia.
The Greens
While the Greens also pledge to cut unnecessary red tape, an apparent cross-party consensus, they insist this must not compromise environmental or consumer protection standards. “The effects of global warming, the extinction of insects and soil degradation are major challenges for our food security”indicates their program.
Regarding consumer protection, the Greens advocate “fair contracts and enforceable rights” to protect consumers against unfair prices and the opacity of the food chain, as well as greater transparency through the labeling of foodstuffs.
The party insists on mandatory labeling of seeds and foods produced using genetic editing methods and calls for a ban on patents on plants, seeds and animals. The program also proposes to extend the “farm animal label”, currently used for pigs, to all farm animals, to ensure transparency of animal welfare standards and improve welfare. -be general of livestock.
In terms of nutrition, the Greens finally propose reducing the sugar content of soft drinks and banning the advertising of unhealthy foods intended for children.
[Édité par Anna Martino]
