Among the issues concerning Luxembourg’s farmers are the question of succession, business expansion, or financial support from the EU. Generally the sector has been satisfied with the CSV-DP coalition’s approach, but politics could ultimately only be measured through concrete results. And the sector is still impatiently waiting for these.
Since there are strict requirements for building activities in the green zone due to environmental protection, many farmers feel inhibited. But the amendments to the Nature Conservation Act are still pending. The only small success in administrative simplification so far is that the regulations for lifting equipment at the Inspectorate of Labour and Mines (ITM) have been changed. However there is room for improvement in some areas, says Christian Hahn, president of the Chamber of Agriculture.
He highlighted examples such as the need to cover buildings in wooden cladding despite there being no ecological value to this measure, and added that a reduction in administrative procedures would help encourage younger people to get into farming. Money alone would not be enough to motive the younger generation into taking over an agricultural business.
“If I can spend time with my family on Sundays, the children will see it is an enjoyable profession. Throughout the week they can see how nice it is to work in nature, with the animals and so on. But on Sundays I am usually stuck in the office doing paperwork, catching up because I can’t get it finished during the week, there is so much admin to do and the children see this less pleasant aspect of the job as well.”
Another subject on farmers’ minds is common European agricultural policies. From 2028, EU funds are set to decrease by 20% to 300 billion euros.
“EU policies are really there to make food prices cheaper for consumers, so they’re actually social measures for consumption. But in the last decade or so we’ve seen environmental policies tagged on to them. So now if I make an environmental contribution as a farmer, I don’t get financial aid for this, just for the lower yield compared to normal production.”
It has been suggested to finance minister Gilles Roth that European grants, such as for eco-schemes or agricultural environment programmes, could be made tax free. An environmental service is a service to society. But it remains to be seen if Roth will adopt the plan.
