Commissioner Christophe Hansen, in a written answer on 22 June 2026, outlined a package of urgent and long-term measures to stabilise fertiliser prices and support EU farmers facing rising production costs and supply chain disruptions linked to the escalation of conflict in the Middle East. The response, addressed to a group of MEPs led by Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza (ECR), signals the Commission's intention to deploy targeted exceptional support from the agricultural reserve and propose a legislative package including liquidity relief under Member States' Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plans, ahead of the next production cycle.
The answer comes in response to a parliamentary question submitted on 28 April 2026 by 16 MEPs from across political groups, who warned that fertiliser prices had surged to EUR 700-800 per tonne in some Member States, partly due to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the Middle East conflict. The Commission's reply confirms that measures already taken include temporary duty-free tariff rate quotas for ammonia, urea, and other key nitrogen fertilisers (excluding Russia and Belarus) until 31 May 2027, a reduced CBAM default value markup of 1%, and the adoption of a state aid Framework on the Middle East. On 19 May 2026, the Commission adopted a Fertiliser Action Plan, which sets out short- and long-term actions to improve fertiliser availability, affordability, and resilience, including increasing EU production capacity, supporting decarbonisation, diversifying supply chains, and promoting nutrient recycling.
The Commission is balancing immediate relief for farmers with a structural push to reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels and fertilisers, aligning with broader strategic autonomy goals. The answer contains concrete proposals—such as the agricultural reserve support and legislative package—but leaves details on timing and funding to future proposals. Institutional follow-up is expected in the coming months, with the legislative package likely to be tabled before the next production cycle. The measures impact EU farmers (positive, via cost relief), fertiliser producers (mixed, due to decarbonisation pressure), EU taxpayers (negative, via state aid and reserve spending), and non-EU fertiliser exporters (negative, due to tariff quotas excluding Russia and Belarus).