EU Agriculture Council: €400M Fertiliser Action Plan to Address European Farming Crisis

The EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council met on May 26 to address the European fertiliser affordability and availability crisis. The European Commission unveiled an action plan featuring approximately €400 million in targeted aid for farmers, CAP flexibility measures allowing member states to redirect rural development funds, and strategic autonomy measures to reduce EU agricultural dependency on imported nitrogen and potash fertilisers — supply chains disrupted by Russia's war in Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions regime. Ministers also exchanged views on EU agri-food trade with third countries, including concerns about WTO-compatibility of proposed 'mirror clauses' on food safety standards for imports.