Direct payments & support

"Tackle the challenges – make farms and rural areas fit for the future!"(Federal Minister Ilse Aigner)

As a consequence of demographic developments and climate change, rural areas are confronted with major challenges. The farming industry must constantly improve its competitiveness in response to globalisation and technical progress. These difficult adjustment processes are supported by the Federal Government, the Länder and the EU with customised programmes. The objective is to maintain secure jobs, high value-added and quality of life in rural areas. The key component is the "Joint Task for the Improvement of Agricultural Structures and Coastal Protection " (GAK) which provides support for single farm investments, management systems, energy savings and rural development.

Today, support for agriculture within the EU is mainly based on direct payments to farmers which were introduced as partial compensation for price cuts for certain products. The direct payments constitute financial compensation for the high standards of environmental protection, animal welfare and consumer protection in the EU compared to the production requirements in non-EU countries.

Money for services - the real nature of agricultural subsidies

Federal Minister Aigner on the publication of EU agricultural payments

Transparency creates acceptance - this was the guiding principle of the decisions made by the EU Member States almost three years ago.

read more: Money for services - the real nature of agricultural subsidies …