16
Feb
2023
Watch
Availability of fertilisers in the EU (debate)
Dear Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I think that the situation we have just experienced – that is, that we now have a few colleagues here who are already there – is very welcome! – and the Commissioner is there too – it shows just a little bit of the situation we are in in terms of food security and food supply, not especially in Europe, but in terms of our global situation. I think we are sleepwalking into a catastrophe and somehow don't even notice it or take it really seriously or at least not as seriously as the situation actually requires at the moment. Commissioner, yesterday I saw the new figures from the World Food Organisation again – I was at a meeting with the Chief Economist of the World Food Organisation – and I have to say: We cannot in any way give an all-clear on the issue of food security: In the world, 839 million people are starving or don't have enough to eat. Last year's figures have worsened again. The number of people who do not have enough calories has increased once again compared to the situation a year ago. That's why I think we need to act in many places. I don't think it's a time of concern, but it's definitely a time when we have to act and not just react. And I think we need to react quickly in different places. This applies on the one hand to the situation of our farmers, especially in the border regions with Ukraine, and on the other hand to our Polish farmers, Romanian farmers, Hungarian, Slovak and Bulgarian farmers. I think we need to help quickly. And, Commissioner, I thank you for making proposals there, but they must now also be enforced soon, so that there are compensations for the situations that have just arisen as a result of the faults. And then there is also a lot of need for action in the field of fertilisers; This is what our resolution, which we are going to adopt today, is about. I am optimistic that we will adopt them by a good majority. I believe that your communication is pointing in the right direction, but that different decisions are still pending at crucial points. For example: Why do we need or why do we still have anti-dumping duties in the current situation, although fertiliser prices are still high, sometimes very, very high in some regions in Europe? Why are we not moving forward to become more independent of fertilisers – I mean in particular the better use of organic fertilisers? In the end, too, many, many approvals from the European Commission are still pending; There are many concerns. I think we have to realize that organic fertilizers and the animal husbandry that is behind them are one of the solutions that we have to draw, that we have to lift in order to make us more independent of chemical-synthetic mineral fertilizers. There are actually a few decisions on the table. It is clear that one must and can meet these now in order to have to use fewer mineral fertilizers in the future in order to be able to use more organic fertilizers, which can also be better distributed within the European Union where it is necessary. Therefore, in the area of RENURE In my view, what is happening very quickly and in the area of anti-dumping duties, in the area of compensation, especially for the farmers who are now exposed to the faults. I believe these are the very important, necessary decisions that must come soon. And we need to think about how we are positioning ourselves for 2024 and 2025, Commissioner. I believe that we cannot afford to make larger set-asides in 2024 and 2025, to have too restrictive regulations than the European Union, but we must see that we at least maintain our production in order to be able to make our contribution as a basis for food supply in the world.