Members of European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development gave mixed reviews on Monday 29 June of the emergency package presented by the European Commission to address rising fertiliser prices, including €540 million in aid for farmers.
While acknowledging the need for a swift response to support farmers, several MEPs felt that the proposed measures remain insufficient and too focused on the short term.
For Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, Italian), the scheme constitutes a “necessary and urgent” response, notably allowing for advance payments and greater flexibility in implementing the common agricultural policy (CAP). He nevertheless called for increased vigilance regarding the functioning of the fertiliser market, arguing that some price developments do not solely reflect production costs. According to him, the Commission must strengthen market monitoring to prevent oligopoly situations and excessive profits, without this leading to interventions that artificially prolong high prices.
Camilla Laureti (S&D, Italian) stressed the need for better regulation of the use of EU funding and for accelerating the transition to alternative fertilisers, particularly organic and renewable resource-based ones, in order to reconcile food security with sustainability goals.
According to Gilles Pennelle (PfE, French), the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will “considerably increase the cost of fertilisers for farmers”. He criticised a proposal to use funds from the crisis reserve, which is already intended to support farmers in emergency situations.
Martin Häusling (Greens/EFA, German) denounced “unconditional support for a highly profitable fertiliser industry”. In his view, the Commission isn’t proposing a sufficient strategy either to reduce dependence on mineral fertilisers or to promote a lasting reduction in their use. He also argued for a reduction in the use of nitrogen fertilisers and greater agronomic efficiency rather than generalised aid.
The European Commission has defended a package combining €540 million in immediate aid, flexibilities in the CAP and a medium- and long-term strategy aimed at strengthening the sector’s resilience and reducing the EU’s dependence on fertiliser imports (see EUROPE 13887/3). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)