Local authorities fear funding cuts for rural development
There is great concern in Bavaria's municipalities about significant funding cuts for rural development in the 2024 federal budget. Shortly before further budget discussions in Berlin in mid-November, Hans-Peter Schmucker, Head of the Office for Rural Development (ALE) in Lower Bavaria, once again points out the importance of the funds for many villages in Bavaria.
If the funds were to be cut significantly, it would be "extremely bad for rural areas", says Schmucker. It is about equal living conditions between town and country. Rural areas are only perceived as interesting by city dwellers "when it comes to recreation, energy production or the production of food that city dwellers then eat". The village renewal projects in many municipalities revolve around current issues such as water management, adaptation to climate change, land conservation and modern infrastructure.
Schmucker refers to the German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB) and the Bavarian Association of Municipalities, among others, which have already warned of funding cuts. He hopes that the plans for cuts will not be implemented after all.
The DStGB recently stated: "The radical cuts in funding for rural and structurally weak regions that are being discussed would send a fatal signal to towns and municipalities." In many places, municipal development projects have been prepared that strengthen social cohesion. "The implementation of these projects is now being jeopardized by a lack of funding."
The Bavarian Association of Municipalities had previously stated: "The constitutionally required equality of living conditions should not be jeopardized."
The draft budget for 2024 provides for the abolition of the federal government's special framework plan for rural development and massive cuts to the joint task of improving agricultural structures and coastal protection (GAK). According to the Association of Municipalities, the offices for rural development in Bavaria will receive around 49 million euros from the special framework plan in 2022 and around 45 million euros from regular GAK funds.
The municipalities across Germany, including Bavaria, have voiced concerns to the authorities about potential funding cuts for rural development in the upcoming 2024 federal budget. The German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB) has strongly criticized these proposed cuts, stating that they would send a detrimental message to towns and municipalities and jeopardize ongoing development projects.
Source: www.dpa.com
