Experts from EU Member States expressed their concerns on Monday 23 January about the situation of agricultural markets and the negative effects of the war in Ukraine on food security.
The Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) prepared the debate of the EU Agriculture Ministers on Monday 30 January on food safety in these troubled times.
The European Commission representative was rather positive, stressing that the prices offered to producers are very high and compensate for the increase in input prices.
Regarding the price and availability of fertilisers, the situation has improved, according to the Commission. “Fertilisers are available and prices have fallen”, the institution said.
The Commission has also noted a sharp rise in pigmeat prices in recent months and a reduction in production in some Member States, such as Germany and Poland.
Overall, delegations recalled the difficulties caused by high input costs.
Ukraine. Several delegations (Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia) stressed the need to address the negative impact of Ukrainian imports on the competitiveness of neighbouring countries and called for compensation for this. For Romania, the customs regime applicable to certain cereals imported from Ukraine should be reviewed with regard to sanitary and phytosanitary controls to avoid the risk of importing contaminated grain. According to the Commission, wheat production in 2022 in Ukraine will be half the level of 2021, maize production 3/4 and sunflower production 2/3.
While a number of countries have called for the activation of the agricultural crisis reserve, several delegations (France, Netherlands, Denmark, Italy) are rather against (budget of €500 million).
Finally, Austria, Finland and Slovakia expressed their concerns about the Court of Justice ruling on neonicotinoids and the impact it could have on sugar beet production. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)