CDU/CSU on agriculture

From the program “A Change of Policy for Germany”

2025 federal election, February 23, 2025Original PDF, 82 pagesAnalyzed on October 2, 2026

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Placement on Agriculture

Average of the points on this page. The placement is made by AI.

Each axis measures one topic. There is no single "left" or "right" for everything here: economy, society, migration and security are kept apart. Only what the program says is placed. How to read the placement

Economyleaning more market (+1), from 2 points
Points per step: 0 clearly more state, 0 leaning more state, 0 balanced, 2 leaning more market, 0 clearly more market
Europeleaning less EU (+1), from 1 point
Points per step: 0 clearly more EU, 0 leaning more EU, 0 balanced, 1 leaning less EU, 0 clearly less EU
Climateleaning growth first (+1), from 2 points
Points per step: 0 clearly climate first, 0 leaning climate first, 0 balanced, 2 leaning growth first, 0 clearly growth first

The small columns under the bars show how many points sit on each of the five steps.

Fully restore the farm diesel tax refund

The CDU and the CSU want to bring back the full tax refund on diesel used in farming. Biofuels and synthetic fuels used in agriculture and forestry would be exempt from energy tax. The platform presents this as relief for farms.

Farmers get back part of the tax on diesel. This refund is being cut right now. The CDU and the CSU want to pay it in full again. Farmers should also pay no energy tax on biofuels.

The farm diesel refund would apply in full again. Alternative fuels such as biofuels and synthetic fuels would be exempt from energy tax when used in agriculture and forestry. The parties also want to secure funding for the joint federal-state program for agricultural structures and coastal protection. Young farmers would get more support nationwide so that farms can be passed on to the next generation.

Show the original quote (page 36)

„Wir führen die Agrardieselrückvergütung wieder vollständig ein.“

Translation: We will fully reinstate the agricultural diesel refund.

Page 36 in the original

Placement

Economyleaning more market
The ongoing cut to a tax break would be reversed and a further tax exemption created, which lowers the tax burden on farms.
Climateleaning growth first
The tax break for fossil diesel would apply in full again, putting cost relief for farms ahead of phasing out this subsidy.

Simplify farm policy and cut red tape

The CDU and the CSU want to greatly simplify the EU's Common Agricultural Policy and reduce reporting and record-keeping duties for farmers. They want to block new EU obligations early on. Environmental goals would be reached through incentives rather than mandates.

Farmers have to fill out many forms and follow many rules. The CDU and the CSU want to cut this down a lot. The EU farm rules should become simpler. Farmers should get money for protecting nature. Nobody should force them to leave fields unused.

The EU farm budget would stay separate and well funded, while the Common Agricultural Policy would become simpler and get higher thresholds for minor cases. EU law would be transposed into German law without adding extra requirements. Specifically, the parties want to drop the nutrient flow balance in fertilizer law, permanently prevent an EU soil law, and soften the EU taxonomy for agriculture and forestry. Ecological goals would be pursued through incentives, contract-based conservation, and innovation; the platform rejects forced set-aside of land. Food security would be written into the Basic Law as a state objective. The parties also back chemical-synthetic pesticides and livestock farming without quotas or herd reductions.

Show the original quote (page 36)

„Wir bauen Berichts- und Dokumentationspflichten spürbar ab, stellen uns neuen EU-Pflichten frühzeitig entgegen und setzen stattdessen auf Marktwirtschaft und Vertrauen.“

Translation: We will noticeably reduce reporting and documentation requirements, oppose new EU obligations early on, and rely instead on the market economy and trust.

Page 36 in the original

Placement

Economyleaning more market
Existing reporting duties and certain requirements for farms would be dropped, which means less regulation.
Europeleaning less EU
New EU rules such as a soil law would be blocked and EU law transposed only at the minimum level, while the common farm budget would remain.
Climateleaning growth first
Environmental requirements such as the nutrient flow balance would be dropped and voluntary measures would replace binding rules.

What do the other parties say on agriculture?

All programs at federal level compared