Brussels: Today, the European Commission presents strong measures to help farmers facing sharply rising fertiliser costs and to support Europe's food security, delivering on the recently announced Fertiliser Action Plan. According to Emirates News Agency, recent geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions have caused a significant spike in fertiliser prices across Europe. To mitigate this challenge, the Commission is rolling out two key measures aimed at providing immediate relief to the agricultural sector. Firstly, the European Commission is set to offer financial aid to help farmers procure fertilisers necessary for ensuring future crop yields. In the upcoming weeks, the Commission plans to mobilise a total of £540 million to support this initiative. Earlier this week, the Commission proposed an increase to the agricultural reserve by adding an extra £300 million from the EU budget for 2026, supplementing the existing funds. Member States will have the opportunity to enhance this reserve by up to 200% using national funds, potentially raising the total to £1.5 billion. Secondly, the Commission seeks to implement specific changes to the Common Agricultural Policy. These changes are designed to allow Member States to offer quicker and more adaptable assistance to farmers for fertiliser access. The proposed measures include a new liquidity scheme for crisis support under rural development, the option for Member States to distribute direct payments to farmers sooner, and the flexibility for Member States to adjust their direct payment budget for the calendar year 2027.
