The primary role of public policy in the agriculture and food sector is to ensure the food supply and, therefore, to be prepared for possible crises. EU policy has however yet to find any constancy and has swung between massive interventionism and disengagement.
In the midst of the price and energy crisis and the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on the food market, the Commission is about to publish a communication on fertilizers (on November 9th). According to some rumors, the Commission will call on national capitals to ensure supplies of gas for fertilizers manufacturers, and encourage to […]
During the informal meeting of agriculture ministers held in Prague, Commissioner Wojciechowski hinted to the need for the EU to have a fertilizer strategy, notably in this time of agricultural price crisis. On the revision of the use of plant protection products, some delegations led by the Polish one strongly asked for an effective revision […]
The new Czech Presidency of the Council clearly adopted a different approach on the Farm to Fork strategy compared to previous presidencies: in light of the war in Ukraine and its consequences on the world’s food security, it intends to slow down the process of reform. At the same time, however, Health Commissioner Kyriakides presented […]
After several months of delay compared to the original publication date, the Commission published its legislative proposal for a revision of the sustainable use of pesticides directive, in order to make the F2F target of reduction of these products legally binding, but having the member states to find ways of applying it. Despite some member […]
While the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is going on in the East of Europe, agricultural markets are still suffering its consequences, notably in the price raise of fertilizers and the possible shortages on the cereal markets. The EU institutions are discussing alternative solutions to the short-term problems that the conflict is creating within the […]
In the face of the conflict in Ukraine, the month of March was punctuated by government announcements of new sanctions against Russia, and decisions by businesses and citizens to boycott certain products from Russia. The conflict is nevertheless threatening the production of certain crops, notably barley, for which producers fear a shortage and warn of […]