In a written answer on 22 June 2026, Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen detailed a series of EU measures to shield European farmers and stockbreeders from the economic fallout of the escalating conflict in the Middle East, notably rising energy, fertiliser and transport costs. The response, addressed to MEP Galato Alexandraki (ECR), who had warned that disruptions in maritime transport and higher input costs were already squeezing the sector, confirms that the Commission is working on multiple fronts to ease pressure on the most exposed operators.
a temporary state aid framework adopted on 29 April 2026 to support sectors including agriculture; duty-free tariff rate quotas for ammonia, urea and other nitrogen fertilisers from countries other than Russia and Belarus, valid until 31 May 2027; and the AccelerateEU communication of 22 April 2026, which aims to strengthen the EU energy system through greater coordination and a faster shift to domestic clean energy, directly benefiting farmers as consumers. Most notably, the Commissioner highlighted the Fertiliser Action Plan adopted on 19 May 2026, which includes both short-term and long-term structural measures to reduce import dependency, boost domestic production and provide targeted support to farmers, while remaining aligned with climate objectives. One of the short-term actions proposed in the Plan is the mobilisation and top-up of the agricultural reserve to provide fast relief to farmers.
The answer stops short of an immediate commitment to activate the CAP agricultural reserve, which amounts to EUR 450 million per year, but states that the Commission is closely monitoring the situation and will consider additional support if needed. On the question of additional flexibility for Member States to provide targeted support, Hansen referenced the temporary state aid framework as the primary tool already available. The response signals a policy orientation that balances short-term relief with longer-term structural resilience, but leaves the door open for further action depending on how the crisis evolves. Institutional follow-up is expected through continued monitoring and potential further measures under the Fertiliser Action Plan and AccelerateEU initiatives.