This is an ambitious aim. On the thorny road ahead I will need the support of the Federal German Parliament and the support of the Laender . The overwhelming majority of Germans want a new agricultural policy, for which I would like to gain the support of the majority of Laender as well. I will endorse more flexibility in the policy on subsidies so as to relieve the unilateral strain on the Laender . And for this I also require the support of the partner countries in the European Union.
Agricultural policy is European policy.
The signs I receive from Brussels are encouraging and I hope we can change course at the next meeting of the Agriculture Council at the end of February, but not later than with the mid-term review of Agenda 2000. I therefore suggest to widen the scope for individual nations to change agricultural subsidies. The turnaround in agriculture means more sustainability in agricultural policy. The Federal Environment Minister introduced a draft nature conservation act. In contrast to the previous government, this pivotal bill will not fail because of the farming sector.