The European Commission has adopted measures to help farmers facing sharply rising fertiliser costs and to support Europe’s food security.
Geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions have pushed prices of fertilisers up across Europe in recent months. The Commission says targeted adjustments to he Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will enable E U Member States to provide farmers with faster and more flexible support to access fertilisers.
The measures include three main elements:
First, a new liquidity scheme under rural development for crisis support, which can be co-financed up to 65% from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). It can include unused funds that may otherwise be lost and Member States may add national financing of up to 200%. To ensure rapid delivery and minimise administrative burdens, support can be paid as a fixed amount per hectare and implemented through the CAP Strategic Plans.
Second, Member States will have the possibility to provide advanced direct payments to farmers before 16 October with an increased rate of advances, helping them to improve cash flow.
Finally, Member States will be allowed further flexibility in addressing the impact of the high fertiliser prices, by adjusting their allocations for direct payments for calendar year 2027.
These measures complement the exceptional financial support package of €540 million announced in the Fertilisers Action Plan and adopted on 27 July.
The Commission says it will continue to deliver on the Plan to reduce farmers’ exposure to future crises and, through these actions, strengthen EU food security, strategic autonomy and competitiveness.
