Martin Huber, Secretary General of the Christian Social Union (CSU), criticized the priorities of the German government coalition (“Ampel-Koalition”) in a post on X, claiming that the government invests substantial funds in global development projects while failing to support German farmers. While his statement is mostly accurate, some contextual clarifications are necessary.
On January 19, 2024, Huber posted on X: “Germany finances green refrigerators in Colombia, public transport in Latin America, bicycle lanes in Peru, gender-sensitive rural development in Bangladesh, and the protection of rural culture in China. The government distributes money all over the world, but supposedly has none left for our hardworking farmers?”
Germany’s development cooperation: The role of the Ampel coalition
Huber’s claim about the government distributing money globally primarily refers to Germany’s federal expenditures on development cooperation. According to the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), development cooperation aims to achieve “sustainable improvements in global economic, social, environmental, and political conditions.” The primary objectives include poverty reduction, the promotion of human rights and democracy, and the prevention of crises and conflicts.
Germany is a member of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The DAC consists of 32 donor countries that report their annual development expenditure to the OECD. The DAC members aim to allocate 0.7% of their gross national income (GNI) to public development assistance, a target set by the United Nations in 1972.
Germany has met this target in 2016, 2020, 2021, and 2022, spending more than 0.7% of its GNI on development projects. Notably, Germany reached this threshold before the Ampel coalition took office in December 2021, including in the years 2016 and 2020.
In 2022, Germany allocated a total of €33.89 billion to Official Development Assistance (ODA), equivalent to 0.85% of GNI. Huber’s claim may refer to the fact that the Ampel government’s expenditure on development cooperation surpasses the 0.7% benchmark set by previous administrations.
Budget Cuts in the Agricultural Sector
Huber’s statement that no funds are available for German farmers refers to the planned budget cuts in the agricultural sector for 2024. The Ampel coalition was forced to adjust its budget after the Federal Constitutional Court ruled in late 2023 that certain financial plans were unconstitutional due to the reallocation of funds from the Climate and Transformation Fund (KTF).
Following nationwide farmer protests, some planned budget cuts were scaled back. On January 4, 2024, Minister of Food and Agriculture Cem Özdemir announced that the exemption from vehicle taxes for agricultural and forestry vehicles would remain in place. Additionally, instead of eliminating the agricultural diesel subsidy outright, the government decided to phase it out gradually over several years. These measures counterbalance Huber’s claim by demonstrating that, despite financial constraints, the government has taken steps to ease the burden on farmers. Furthermore, even after the agricultural diesel subsidy is phased out, farmers will continue to receive financial support from the government.
Development projects predating the Ampel coalition
Most of the projects referenced in Huber’s post are funded under Germany’s public development assistance program. However, many of the projects he mentions were approved before the Ampel coalition took office, during the tenure of former Development Minister Gerd Müller. Therefore, linking these projects directly to the Ampel government is factually incorrect.
Conclusion
In summary, Martin Huber accurately describes real development projects financed by Germany’s public development assistance program. However, his direct attribution of these projects to the Ampel coalition is incorrect, as many were approved before the current government took office. It is a fact that the Ampel government allocates a portion of the federal budget to development cooperation. Huber’s claim that farmers receive insufficient support from the government stems from planned budget cuts in the agricultural sector. However, his statement exaggerates the impact of these cuts, as the government has implemented measures to mitigate financial burdens on farmers. Additionally, funding for public development assistance and national agricultural subsidies comes from separate budget allocations.
RESEARCH | ARTICLE | Liv Wohlfahrt, Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart, Germany
Leave your comments, thoughts and suggestions in the box below. Take note: your response is moderated.
