© picture alliance / Westend61 | Aitor Carrera Porté
The royal family of the United Arab Emirates bought up farmland in Spain, Italy and Romania through companies and a sovereign wealth fund, DeSmog's investigative journalists revealed. As a result, they were entitled to 71 million euros in European agricultural subsidies between 2019 and 2024. The largest property is in Romania, comprising 57,000 hectares.
The Green Group in the European Parliament calls this a disgrace because the subsidies are meant for ordinary European farmers. Of these farmers, 99 percent receive less than 100,000 euros a year. According to the Greens, the second richest family in the world, from a state without free press or political opposition, should not be entitled to European farm money.
The European Commission acknowledges the problem, but says it can do little as long as the disbursement is a Member State competence. It does not even know the names of all beneficiaries. However, it does intend to contact Spain, Italy and Romania. Starting in 2028, the Commission proposes a subsidy cap of 100,000 euros per year per farm in the next multi-year budget.
The UAE is buying up farmland around the world, including in Africa and Latin America. In this way, they want to strengthen their own food security. In total, some 960,000 hectares are involved on three continents.
Picture: © picture alliance / Westend61 | Aitor Carrera Porté