EU Farm Ministers Urge Immediate Action on Fertiliser Crisis Amid Iran War
EU farm ministers are demanding immediate action on the fertiliser crisis, driven by the Iran war and rising energy costs. The Commission will present an action plan on May 19 and propose increased state aid flexibility. Ministers like David Vlajčić and Sari Essayah stress the urgency of short-term solutions.
During a closed-door meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, several EU agriculture ministers urged the Commission to implement short-term measures to help farmers manage rising energy and fertiliser costs. This pressure stems from the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran war, which has exacerbated price increases already initiated by the EU’s carbon border tax (CBAM) in January.
The Commission is expected to unveil a fertiliser action plan on May 19. This plan will include proposals to reduce import dependency, increase domestic production, and decarbonise the sector. Additionally, the EU executive is set to propose loosening state aid requirements this week, allowing member states to cover up to 50% of additional costs related to the Iran crisis until year-end.
Croatian Agriculture Minister David Vlajčić and Finnish counterpart Sari Essayah called for swift action, alongside long-term solutions. Irish Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon also emphasized support for agriculture and fisheries due to the Middle East conflict. While exempting fertilisers from CBAM was previously suggested, support for this idea is declining after the Commission rejected it, though Latvia's Agriculture Minister Armands Krauze advocated for a delay.