DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 24 February 2026
Commission acts to safeguard availability and affordability of fertilisers
Delivering on its commitment made at the ministerial meeting of 7 January, the European Commission has proposed to suspend, for one year, the most favoured nation (MFN) duties on imports of several key nitrogen fertilisers and inputs for their production (ammonia, urea). The tariff suspension will be implemented for all countries, except Russia and Belarus, through duty-free tariff rate quotas.
The measure will strengthen the EU's agri-food sector, lowering costs for farmers and the fertilisers industry by saving an estimated €60 million in import duties. It will also facilitate the reduction of the EU's dependency on Russia and Belarus and support diversification of supply, where imports are still needed for the EU agricultural sector and the fertiliser industry. This will help ensure the EU's food security and sovereignty in an increasingly unstable and uncertain world.
By eliminating MFN tariffs and by opening new opportunities via trade agreements, the Commission's main aim is to support competitive, EU agri-food and fertilisers sectors, while searching for new and reliable suppliers. The proposed measure is carefully calibrated to the needs of the EU market, through the establishment of a quota system. Imports beyond these quotas will be subject to standard MFN duties.
This initiative delivers on the Commission's commitment to address rising costs faced by EU farmers, and is an important component of the Commission's work to address the high cost of fertilisers to EU farmers. It also aligns with broader efforts to secure EU food sovereignty and economic security in an uncertain global landscape. In December 2025, the Commission already proposed EU-level action focused on fertilisers. An exception to the standard calculation rules was proposed, to reduce the impact of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on fertilisers, making them the only commodity to benefit from such an exception (use of a 1% markup instead of 10 % with a progressive increase to 30 % for all other sectors). In the context of CBAM implementation, the Commission continues to closely monitor the market.
(For more information: Olof Gill – Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66; Marta Perez-Cejuela Romero - Tel.: +32 2 296 37 70)
Commission approves €400 million Greek State aid scheme to support cleantech manufacturing capacity, contributing to Clean Industrial Deal objectives
The European Commission has approved a €400 million Greek State aid scheme to support strategic investments that add clean technology (cleantech) manufacturing capacity in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal. This measure will contribute to the transition towards a net-zero economy.
The scheme was approved under the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) adopted by the Commission on 25 June 2025.
The purpose of the scheme is to grant aid for investments that add manufacturing capacity for the production, including with secondary raw materials, of net-zero technologies and their main specific components listed in Annex II of the CISAF, as well as the production of new or recovered related critical raw materials necessary for the production of the final products or main specific components. The aid will take the form of direct grants and tax advantages. The measure will be open to companies in the whole territory of Greece. The aid may be granted until 31 December 2030.
The Commission concluded that the Greek scheme is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to accelerate the transition towards a net-zero economy and facilitate the development of certain economic activities, which are of importance for the implementation of the Clean Industrial Deal.
Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera, in charge of competition policy, said: “This scheme will ensure additional clean technology manufacturing capacity in Greece. The Greek state can provide €400 million in support for key investments in the sector, using a range of different measures. This new manufacturing potential will contribute to reaching the goals of the Clean Industrial Deal, while ensuring that potential competition distortions are kept to a minimum.”
A press release is available online
(For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 229 94774)
Commissioners Várhelyi and Hansen participate in the Salon International de l'Agriculture in Paris
This week, Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare Olivér Várhelyi and Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen visit the Salon International de l'Agriculture, which this year focuses on the theme ‘Generations Solutions.' These visits reflect the European Commission's ongoing engagement with Member States and agricultural partners to ensure a sustainable, competitive, high quality and fair European agri-food sector, while addressing the concerns of farmers and rural communities in the face of global challenges.
Commissioner Várhelyi will attend the fair today. He will engage with French horizontal and sectoral agricultural organisations, to discuss critical issues such as combatting animal diseases, use of plant protection products, maintaining food safety standards and European competitiveness. He will also bilaterally meet with the French Minister for Agriculture, Annie Genevard, to discuss shared priorities.
Commissioner Hansen will visit the Salon tomorrow. He will meet with a broad range of stakeholders - from young farmers and cereal producers to winegrowers and livestock associations. They will discuss the Commission's proposals for the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and the challenges facing key sectors such as viticulture and beef production. During his visit, Commissioner Hansen will also meet Minister Genevard to take stock of all actions undertaken since the presentation of the Commission's Vision for Agriculture and Food and to hear details of France's priorities for the agriculture sector and the CAP.
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Kateřina Horáková - Tel.: +32 2 299 93 10)
Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings
Note that these items can be subject to changes.
Upcoming events of the European Commission
Eurostat press releases
Calendar items of the President and Commissioners
Individual calendars of the President and Commissioners
Joint Statement by the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Parliament on the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Today, four years ago Russia started its full-scale and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Once again, we pay tribute to the brave people of Ukraine, who continue to resist and defend their country.
Russia has not achieved its military objectives in Ukraine. As Russia cannot advance on the battle ground, it deliberately targets Ukrainian civilian and critical infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, hospitals, schools and residential buildings in the midst of a severe winter. Ukrainians remain formidable in their fortitude, determination and resilience.
The European Union has stood firmly with Ukraine and its people from the very first day of Russia's aggression. Our objective is a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law. We support all efforts aimed at achieving such a peace – a peace with dignity and long-term security. Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is the cornerstone. No country can annex its neighbour. Borders cannot be changed by force. The aggressor cannot be rewarded. In the current challenging international and geopolitical environment, we stress the importance of maintaining transatlantic and global solidarity with Ukraine.
The European Union will continue to provide comprehensive political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people. We remain Ukraine's biggest donor. In addition to the close to EUR 200 billion of support since 2022, European leaders have agreed to provide to Ukraine EUR 90 billion in 2026-27 to help ensuring that Ukraine can meet its urgent budgetary and defence needs and remain strong in the face of Russia's attacks. EUR 60 billion of this support package will be spent on military needs (the “Porcupine programme”). The first payment will be made as soon as possible.
This winter, the EU and its Member States have delivered unprecedented energy assistance to Ukraine, alongside air defence and anti-drone systems, as well as humanitarian aid. A new support package for emergency delivery of generators and humanitarian aid. To enhance Ukraine's energy resilience and avoid a repeat of today's emergency, we are working with Ukraine on a new energy security and preparedness plan focusing on repair of and reinforcement of grids, quick restart of damaged power plants and rapid deployment of decentralised renewables power production.
Putin's war of attrition is steadily wearing Russia down, and we are determined to put further pressure on Russia to stop its aggression and engage in meaningful negotiations towards peace. We are determined to increase the pressure on Russia's energy and financial sector and to take additional measures against the shadow fleet.
But our efforts in support of Ukraine also look to the day after – when the fighting ends. The European Union and its Member States, in line with their respective competences, are ready to contribute to robust and credible security guarantees to ensure that Russia can never attack Ukraine again.
We will make sure that Russia will be held accountable for the crimes committed and the damage it has caused. We are committed to operationalising the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and an International Claims Commission for Ukraine, both within the framework of the Council of Europe, as soon as possible.
The future of a secure and prosperous Ukraine lies in the European Union. Ukraine has made significant progress on the EU accession reforms under very challenging circumstances. Ukraine can count on our full support on its EU accession and or its post-war reconstruction.
We stand firm with Ukraine. For a just and lasting peace. For a strong and sovereign Ukraine in a strong and sovereign Europe.