Commission asks industry, member states for ‘input’ into EU fertilisers communication

The European Commission has met with industry and member states to ask for proposals for its upcoming fertiliser communication, but seemingly has no plans to broaden consultations, a move that has sparked backlash among NGOs.

EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski met with the board of fertilisers lobby Fertilizers Europe, which includes representatives from industry players like Yara, Borealis and Grupa Azoty, on Wednesday (19 September) for what he called a “very important meeting on the eve of the preparation of the EC’s communication.”

The communication, expected on 9 November, was conceived as part of efforts to tackle the disruption caused by the Ukraine war, which, between soaring energy prices and disruption of supply of key inputs, has seen the price of fertilisers skyrocket. 

It aims to make the fertiliser industry less externally dependent while simultaneously exploring ways to make EU farmers less dependent on fertilisers. It will also cover external dimensions, such as vulnerable countries in Africa, as well as food security and sustainability aspects.

As it is a communication rather than an action plan, the Commission is not bound to carry out broad stakeholder consultations – but this has not stopped the EU executive from seeking advice from select stakeholders. 

European Commission announces communication on fertilisers

The European Commission will put forward a communication on fertilisers as part of efforts to tackle the disruption caused by the Ukraine war, but this still falls short of the EU-wide fertilisers strategy that stakeholders have been calling for.

According to an EU official, the purpose of the meeting was to “take stock of the current situation regarding the availability and affordability of fertilisers and discuss how to tackle the challenges ahead”.

But Jacob Hansen, director general of Fertilizers Europe and one of those in the meeting, told EURACTIV the Commission was also looking for “input and proposals” into the communication.

The association reiterated calls for a strategy and welcomed the upcoming communication but voiced concerns over its tight turnaround time. 

“What we’d really like to see is a longer-term vision, a deeper look at the competitiveness of the fertilisers sector, and more time would give more space to longer-term considerations,” Hansen said, adding that the focus cannot be just on short term solutions.

The main focus for the sector was the fallout from the gas supply crisis, Hansen explained. Meanwhile, he also called for rules around the disbursement of state aid to be loosened, underlining that the sector is “ready and able to supply EU farmers with fertilisers” provided there is the adequate support. 

According to Hansen, the meeting was a “positive” one, and the Commissioner was “receptive and listened with interest” to what the industry had to say, but he warned the Commission will have to “work very hard” to get the communication published within the proposed timeline.

Similarly, the Commission also asked member states for their input into the communication during a closed session of a meeting of EU agriculture ministers on Monday (17 October).

According to sources inside the meeting, the Commission asked member states to “submit proposals with specific ideas in mind” to feed into the communication. 

Asked about the timeline, the source added that it “does seem odd that the Commission is still collecting thoughts on a communication that is supposed to be published in a couple of weeks time”.

Farmers, industry diverge over fertiliser tariff suspensions

The latest interruptions of Russian gas flows to Europe have reignited debates on fertiliser import tariffs, but farmers and industry remain divided over whether tariff suspensions should include all mineral fertilisers.

At the time of publication, there were no tabled upcoming meetings on the topic with either farmer’s groups or NGOs on the Commissioners’ weekly agenda.

However, a Commission spokesperson told EURACTIV the Commissioner “remains open to all suggestions that contribute to the communication”.

Meanwhile, according to Celia Nyssens-James, senior agriculture policy officer at the European Environmental Bureau, the Commission has not yet requested any meeting with environmental NGOs for their input.

As such, Nyssens-James lambasted the EU executive for “throwing two years of work on an Integrated Nutrients Management Action Plan out of the window to put out instead a Communication catering to the interests of the fertiliser industry.”.

“The Commission must stick to its commitment for integrated nutrients management, which will help cut fertiliser use, reduce pollution, and make farming a lot more efficient and resilient – this is the only way to guarantee our food security in the long-term,” she said.

Likewise, for Harriet Bradley, head of programme for food at the Institute for European Environmental Policy, the news of the meeting sparked concerns that DG AGRI is “catering to fertiliser industry interests”. 

In her view, it would be “more in the public interest to focus support on more efficient use and on alternatives to synthetic fertilisers,” she explained.

[Edited by Alice Taylor]

Read more with Euractiv

AMR: Germany to tighten rules for livestock antibiotics

German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir is pushing a bill in the Bundestag that aims for stricter control of antibiotics use in animal husbandry to counter the increasing danger of resistant germs.