Are you a farmer, an agricultural manager, an agricultural adviser or a member of staff at an agricultural authority? If so, we warmly invite you to our traditional
AGRARRECHT Symposium
on 4 March 2026, from 9.00 am
at the Stadthalle Rostock, Südring 90, 18059 Rostock
.
Since Donald Trump once again took office as US President a year ago, political discourse in this country (and certainly in many other parts of the world) has been dominated by foreign policy and international relations. The European Union and its member states are facing new or increased tariffs on a wide range of products exported to the US. In the dispute over Greenland, the US government announced further tariffs, which are now, however, not to be imposed after all. For the time being, at least. The EU and its member states must find answers to this. The EU apparently hopes to have found such an answer in the Mercosur agreement signed a few days ago, which is set to create the world’s largest free trade area. However, many farmers view this critically and have once again taken to the streets in Germany, France and Italy to protest. The European Parliament also appears to have reservations and has put the agreement on hold for the time being in order to first seek a legal opinion from the European Court of Justice.
But the challenges facing the agricultural sector do not come solely from the other side of the Atlantic: in July 2025, the European Commission presented its proposal for a Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to come into effect from 2028. Mr John Booth, a solicitor, reports on the current status of the plans for the CAP 2028, which will affect all agricultural holdings regardless of degression and capping.
In addition to a new CAP, the EU is also pushing ahead with its Green Deal: since 18 August 2024, Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on the restoration of nature and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869 – in short: the Restoration Regulation – has been in force. It sets phased targets for the restoration of ecosystems and for combating biodiversity loss, which are to be implemented by the Member States. The scope of the Regulation is not limited to Natura 2000 sites; rather, restoration measures are to be carried out both within and outside protected areas across the entire landscape. Dr Robert Krüger, a lawyer, will provide you with information on the current status of the Regulation’s implementation and the potential implications this may have for the land you manage.
Climate change is also a major concern for the state legislature and has prompted it to introduce a new State Water Act and a Climate Impact Assessment Act. The new State Water Act is set to make water abstraction more expensive for everyone. The state government forecasts an additional financial burden of between 1.8 and 2.2 million euros for agricultural holdings and commercial horticulturalists. Furthermore, the new State Water Act is set to grant the public sector far-reaching rights of access to agricultural land. The Climate Compatibility Act, which is intended to protect the climate and facilitate adaptation to the consequences of climate change in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, aims to oblige public authorities to take into account the purpose of the Act and the objectives set out for its fulfilment in their planning and decision-making. The Act is therefore likely to have implications for future planning permission procedures, such as those for the construction of a new livestock shed. Mr John Booth, solicitor, will update you on the current status of the legislative process and the potential implications of the Act.
Rather than new laws or legislative amendments, Dr Thomas Hänsch and Mr Steffen Wenzel, both solicitors, will focus on long-standing regulations and, in their presentation, discuss the significance of silence in legal transactions. Although silence does not, in principle, constitute a declaration – that is, it signifies neither consent nor refusal – it may result in you being bound by a contract you did not intend to enter into, or prevent you from asserting your rights. In addition to explaining the legal provisions you need to be aware of to avoid disadvantages, they will also examine the question of whether, and to what extent, it can be contractually agreed that silence should be deemed to constitute consent or refusal.
After the lunch break, Dr Carlo Thiel, a solicitor, will first brief you on the proceedings before the Federal Constitutional Court, in which the constitutionality of inheritance tax – in particular the tax relief granted on the transfer of business assets – is under scrutiny. One objection raised against the Inheritance and Gift Tax Act is that business assets are often transferred almost tax-free, whilst private assets remain subject to a significant tax burden. Should the court find this to be unconstitutional, it could have far-reaching consequences for the current inheritance tax privileges for business assets. It would then be up to the legislature to act. The SPD has already put forward a proposal for reform that provides for tax-free allowances of EUR 5,000,000 for businesses. The proposal was immediately rejected by the CDU/CSU. Against the backdrop of the proceedings before the Federal Constitutional Court and the growing debate on inheritance tax reform, there may nevertheless be an increasingly urgent need for you, as a business owner, to take action. Together with Mr Carlo Stöwer, Solicitor, Dr Carlo Thiel, Solicitor, will outline possible courses of action and structuring options for you.
As always, our specialist presentations will be preceded by a news segment in which we will provide you with a concise update on other current developments in agricultural law.
The following programme is planned:
Programme for the 15th AGRARRECHT Symposium 2026
Make the most of this event to engage in discussion with us, farmers, advisers, representatives from government bodies and associations, and other partners. We look forward to welcoming you.
Please feel free to register
by email or by telephone on 0381/461198-30
Alternatively, you can scan the QR code for a simpler registration process.
As places are limited, we would be grateful if you could confirm your attendance by 24 February 2026.
To help cover part of the event costs, we are charging a flat fee of €35.00.