On Wednesday 19 March, the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee voiced its concerns about the proposal to introduce higher customs duties on imports of fertilisers and agricultural products from Russia and Belarus.
After the EU Council adopted its position (see EUROPE 13600/6), taking on board the European Commission’s proposal, it is now Parliament’s turn to give its opinion, prior to inter-institutional negotiations.
While the draft report by the Committee on International Trade, which is responsible for the substance, is in line with the Council’s position, the Committee on Agriculture, which will be adopting an opinion, is more concerned. The draft opinion by Mireia Borrás Pabón (PfE, Spanish) includes a number of amendments, some of which aim to start implementing the regulation in July 2027 rather than July 2025. Pierre Bascou, Deputy Director General of DG Agriculture, indicated that the Commission had taken into account the concerns of European farmers (gradual introduction of customs duties). Final adoption of Parliament’s position is expected in May.
Link to the draft opinion: https://aeur.eu/f/g1v (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)