The focus is mainly on better conditions for pigs, as announced by the EU Commission on Tuesday in Brussels. More than half of the money, around €675 million, will go to farmers as an investment subsidy. This means that the State can contribute up to 60 percent of the costs of better stables. According to the EU competition authorities, this financing will be in force until the end of 2030.
European Commission approves billions in German aid for better animal welfare
The second pillar of aid (around €325 million) is also planned as a subsidy. The money could be used to cover up to 80 per cent of the additional costs incurred for greater animal welfare. These include extra bedding or higher electricity bills for air conditioning and better ventilation. This aid should last until the end of 2031.
According to the information, both measures can be extended to other animal species. According to the commission, the financing is open to small and medium-sized livestock farms in Germany.
In the EU, the authority ensures, among other things, that member states do not give their companies undue advantages through state support. For example, the goal is to prevent an economically strong country like Germany from helping its companies to drive competitors from smaller EU countries out of the market. In this case, the competition authorities concluded, among other things, that the aid was proportionate because it was limited to the minimum necessary and would have only a limited impact on competition.
Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) was pleased with the green light from Brussels: “Animal farming should have a future in Germany, and that will only be possible if we make consumers' desire for greater animal welfare a business model,” said Özdemir. according to a statement. “Our financing program for the reconversion of livestock farming can now begin quickly.” One billion euros will be allocated to promote the conversion of pig farming.
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