Stories

FragDenStaat explains why in Germany only the big farmers benefit from this system - and the small ones die

Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR found out that several farms that have been accused and sentenced for animal abuse and still receive subsidies. Additionally, they investigated how big companies and formerly state-owned agricultural companies benefit from the current subsidy schemes.

Follow The Money reports for the Netherlands that it is mainly wealthy farmers and large landowners who benefit and that the subsidies do not contribute to more environmentally friendly production.

Der Standard has found that the attempt to redistribute the CAP payments has been watered down substantially. While the new CAP introduces a limit of 100.000€ for the area-based payments, big recipients are now allowed to put employment costs on top, potentially continuing to receive similar funding as before.

Correctiv shows who are among the 100 largest German recipients of public funds over the past eight years. Südzucker AG and the dairy giant FrieslandCampina, with its well-known brands such as Landliebe and Chocomel, receive tens of millions of subsidies from the EU's agricultural budget across Europe.

Gazeta Wyborcza' shows that a lot of money flows into the Catholic Church as well as into state and municipal institutions.

More than 50 farmers who had been found guilty of animal cruelty nevertheless continued to receive agricultural subsidies from the EU in subsequent years.

The largest item in the EU budget, at 450 billion euros, is agricultural subsidies. Contrary to what was promised, large companies still benefit.

Süddeutsche Zeitung interviewed Martin Häusling, member of the Green Party at the European Parliament, about the subsidy program.

IRPI reports on Italy that CAP funds are mainly tapped by large aggregations of farms such as Associations of Producer Organisations (AOP, in Italian) or consortia. Larger farms in fertile areas benefit most, and this favours industrial agriculture to the detriment of smaller farms in more disadvantaged areas.

Reporters United found out that in Greece systemic problems have affected the subsidies distribution, while the top farm subsidies recipients have in the vast majority been public institutions, private law entities and sometimes companies, but rarely farmers. Also the Prime Minister profited from the system.