Brussels, May 25 (UNI) The European Commission has failed to offer a viable alternative to supplies of Russian and Belarusian fertilisers, according to Copa and Cogeca, Europe's largest association of agricultural producers.

This criticism comes as the European Parliament recently approved new protective duties on agricultural imports and fertilisers from Russia and Belarus, despite widespread protests from farmers concerned about a sharp rise in prices.

On Thursday, MEPs voted by a majority to introduce the new duties, which are set to be phased in from July 1 over a period of three years. This decision has sparked alarm within the farming community, which warns of severe consequences for their competitiveness and the future of European agriculture.

"Farming communities understand and support the overall objective pursued by the EU institutions," Copa and Cogeca stated in a release. "However, the complete lack of consideration for alternative sourcing, the absence of an impact assessment, and the lack of clarity on market implications remain deeply problematic." The union concluded that if the EU is "determined to reduce dependency on Russian and Belarusian fertilisers, it must present a credible and forward-looking alternative."

The move to impose duties on Russian and Belarusian fertilisers is part of the EU's broader strategy to reduce economic reliance on these countries following the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022.

While the EU has implemented extensive sanctions across various sectors, fertilisers have been a particularly contentious area due to their critical role in food production. In 2024, the European Union imported 6.2 million tonnes of Russian fertilisers, accounting for a quarter of all its fertiliser imports.

This significant reliance has presented a dilemma for the bloc, balancing geopolitical objectives with the need to ensure food security and maintain the competitiveness of its agricultural sector. Farmers argue that without readily available and affordable alternative sources, these new duties will primarily harm European producers by increasing input costs.

UNI/SPUTNIK ANV RN