The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted an opinion on the EU strategy on fertilisers at its March plenary, calling for availability, affordability and sustainability.

The global fertiliser crisis has reached a critical level in Europe, where farmers are facing unprecedented challenges due to record prices and supply shortages. This crisis has been exacerbated by the recent war in Ukraine, making it a serious threat to European agriculture and global food security.

At its March plenary, the EESC welcomed the communication from the Commission on ensuring fertiliser availability and affordability, highlighting the need for emergency domestic actions to limit the impact of the crisis.

''Farmers face high fertilicer prices which impact on consumers. We welcome the European Commission's communication on ensuring their availability and affordability. However, emergency and longer-term actions are also required to limit the impact of the crisis,'' said Arnold Puech d'Alissac, rapporteur for the EESC opinion.

The EESC has proposed various corrective measures to improve the functioning of the EU fertiliser market, including direct support to the most affected nitrogen manufacturers and farmers through state aid.
However, the Committee also stresses the need to address fertiliser supply and prices by facilitating imports and domestic competition. This can be achieved by suspending EU import tariffs on all fertilisers, facilitating fertiliser logistics and providing regulatory flexibilities.

In addition to short-term measures, the EESC has called for medium-term solutions to limit the EU's dependence on imported mineral fertilisers and reduce the environmental footprint of crop fertilisation.
The EESC has also welcomed the establishment of a new fertiliser market observatory in 2023 to increase transparency in the EU fertiliser market through the regular publication of representative domestic market prices and statistics on fertiliser production and use.

On the international stage, the EESC urges the EU to step up actions against global food insecurity by promoting fertiliser transparency, availability, and effective use. Global fertiliser trade should be facilitated by keeping markets open, avoiding export restrictions and bans, increasing fertiliser production in Europe and expanding logistics routes. (ks)