Austrian and Hungarian farm ministers are expected to meet at the end of January to discuss Hungary’s new land law and Austria’s related concerns. Background discussions are now under way on the format and the date of the ministerial meeting, Rural Development Minister Sandor Fazekas said. The talks were initiated by Austrian minister of agriculture Andrea Rupprechter in December. Mr Rupprechter had written to Mr Fazekas with objections to some stipulations of Hungary’s new land law which, when they are enforced in May, will strip Austrian farmers of their rights to benefit from Hungarian farmland. Mr Rupprechter said it was incomprehensible that his compatriots were being deprived of legally acquired rights „which they have paid in advance to recipients”. Mr Rupprechter also expressed concerns over the land law’s strict provisions as well as ongoing expropriation procedures. Hungary will end its ban on purchases of farm land by parties from other European Union member states in the spring, as stipulated by Brussels. Foreigners from other countries will still not be allowed to buy farm land, under the new land law. The land law limits the purchase of farm land by non-professional farmers or foresters to one hectare. Furthermore, it sets a purchase limit – including existing holdings of farm land – of 300 hectares for a single professional farmer or forester. The limit, including existing land owned and used, is 1,200 hectares for a farmer or for a cooperative, and is higher – 1,800 hectares – for livestock farmers and seed producers.