Commissioner Christophe Hansen presented the EU Fertiliser Action Plan to the European Parliament on 19 May 2026, hours after its adoption, as fertiliser prices surged 70% above the 2024 average and EU dependencies on imports remained high (30% nitrogen, 70% phosphate, 40% potash). The plan combines short-term relief — reinforcing the CAP agricultural reserve, a new liquidity scheme, and flexibility for advance payments — with long-term measures to boost bio-based fertilisers, revise the Nitrates Directive, and create an EU Fertiliser Value Chain Partnership.
MEPs broadly welcomed the plan but diverged sharply on the role of sanctions and the pace of decarbonisation. Thierry Mariani (PfE) and Ivan David (ESN) blamed EU sanctions on Russia and Belarus for price spikes, arguing they hurt EU farmers. Carlo Fidanza (ECR) supported flexibility on Nitrates and digestate but demanded tariff suspensions and ETS relief. On the other side, Cristina Guarda (Greens/EFA) framed the crisis as a fossil fuel dependency issue, while Thomas Waitz (Greens/EFA) criticised reliance on chemical fertilisers and urged support for organic alternatives. Per Clausen (The Left) dismissed the plan as insufficient, calling for a systemic shift away from imports.
Centre-ground MEPs took a more pragmatic stance. Carmen Crespo Díaz (EPP) welcomed the plan but urged revising the Nitrates Directive for Mediterranean regions and eliminating ETS/CBAM impacts on fertilisers. Dario Nardella (S&D) called for recognising fertilisers as strategic inputs and promoting digestate. Elsi Katainen (Renew) said the plan came too late for the acute crisis, noting 20% of farmers plan to reduce cultivated area. Ondřej Knotek (PfE) stressed affordable EU-made fertilisers, not necessarily green, and warned against overly fast decarbonisation. Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR) lamented missed opportunities for circular nutrient use.
The Commission will propose a CAP package and work on digestate rules; Parliament will scrutinise the plan. The action plan affects farmers (input costs), fertiliser producers (regulatory shifts), consumers (food prices), and third-country suppliers (market access).