19
May
2026
Watch
Presentation of the Fertilisers Action Plan (debate)
Madam President, honourable Members, I would like to conclude by thanking you, first of all, for all your valuable contributions today and maybe highlight a few points that you have raised as well. I would first mention what Elsi Katainen has said about the decision that our farmers are about to make. I spoke recently to a French farmer. He has 400 hectares and he said that if the situation remains like it is, he will not plant half of his fields. That would lead us, if many do the same, to a situation where, unfortunately, our food security would be at risk, even if it is with the higher costs. I think that is the situation we all have to avoid together. I have heard your proposals and questions very clearly on the affordability for farmers, the predictability for the producers, the concrete support, the ETS, digestates, on CBAM and on Europe's strategic dependencies. You do not agree on all the points, but I would like to say a few things when it comes, for example, to the diversification of our supply chains. Already before this crisis and before this fertiliser action plan, we reduced the MFN duties from other third countries like Trinidad, Tobago and others in order to bring down the prices and to diversify our suppliers. I have also noted the question on the Global Gateway by Mr Goerens and I would like to link this by the question from Ms Toussaint on the cadmium content. I think we have possibilities in the Global Gateway, for example, to help reduce the cadmium content too, which is in the interest of our health, our consumers' health, but which can also create partnerships with new, better and more sustainable suppliers. I think this has to be used and there is, of course, the possibility. Our proposals of today will help us to also sharpen the implementation. So, the fertiliser action plan is a practical framework for action now and a strategic agenda for the years ahead. In the short term, we will mobilise targeted financial support. Mr Sargiacomo and Mr Köhler asked what money we are speaking about. I can tell you that the money is already what we have left in the agricultural reserve. This is a little bit more than EUR 200 million. So, this is all in and I believe we can at least double this amount. This will, of course, also depend on the budgetary authority. So, it will depend on the Parliament and the Member States if we indeed reach this doubling at least. So, there you are in the boat to help us as well. Then we also have the liquidity tools, the CAP flexibility, the state aid possibilities, better advice on nutrient management and practical solutions for digestates with the appropriate safeguards. In the longer term, we will strengthen domestic production, support the bio‑based and low‑carbon fertilisers, and improve the single market for inorganic fertilisers. On CBAM, I could hear that there was the discussion one way or the other. You have to know that we import around 40 % of our fertilisers and 60 % is our domestic production. When you speak to the fertiliser industry, if we would suspend the CBAM, this would be prolonging their unfair competition with third countries. There would be more closures like the one Ms Grapini mentioned, for example, in Romania, but there have also been other examples. Of course, this is damaging our sovereignty even more in the long term and I think that needs to be avoided. At the same time, the additional costs coming in by CBAM have to be compensated in one way or another and that is what we are working on. Then on the ETS, the forthcoming review will also be an important opportunity to support the industrial decarbonisation, including in the fertiliser value chain, while also keeping Europe's production capacity and farmers' needs firmly in view. The EU fertilisers value chain partnership will help us turn this approach into a concrete policy dialogue between the farmers, producers and the Member States. Some of the changes ahead will require legislation and I also count on this House to work with us constructively as well as swiftly. Our farmers also deserve these swift replies. Above all, it is about Europe's farmers, about our fertiliser producers, food affordability and food security for all our citizens. So, I am counting on a good cooperation to realise the measures that we have presented and discuss the practical details.