Polona Scheuba

Farmers daughter from 🇸🇮🚜. Taking care of 🥕🍎 in 🇦🇹 and 🇪🇺 as VP of the Working Party in Copa-Cogeca. Views are my own.

[COPA-COGECA @COPACOGECA]

When it comes to fertilisers, the 🇪🇺 has the tools to act! Decisive measures are urgently needed to safeguard farm viability and Europe’s food security in an increasingly turbulent geopolitical context.

Following the mobilisation of thousands of farmers in Brussels last December calling for urgent action on fertiliser prices, the Praesidia of @COPACOGECA has approved the farming sector’s common position on a comprehensive set of immediate, medium- and long-term measures to deliver relief and restore market stability ahead of the long-awaited Fertiliser Action Plan by @EU_Commission

Among other actions, @COPACOGECA calls for:

📛 Suspending the CBAM for fertilisers and mitigating its cost impact

📛Suspending MFN tariffs and anti-dumping measures on fertiliser imports

✅Amending the Nitrates Directive without delay to allow greater flexibility in the use of manure where agronomically justified

✅Authorising the use of digestate above current thresholds

📐Harmonised rules to scale up organic and recycled nutrients that can substitute synthetic nitrogen

📏Aligning RENURE criteria with the Joint Research Centre’s recommendations to ensure full technological neutrality

🔎Reinforcing the Fertiliser Market Observatory and strictly enforcing competition rules

🧐 Closely monitoring the market to provide farmers with reliable information on fertiliser availability and fair pricing

The upcoming Fertiliser Action Plan must reflect the agronomic and economic realities on the ground, deliver immediate relief, and set a credible pathway towards sustainable nutrient management.

These measures represent the minimum response needed to address a crisis that farmers have been warning about for years, one whose consequences could extend far beyond agriculture and impact the European Union as a whole.

Full Position Paper on our website >>> https://t.co/kckMfdr5Cn

[Le Figaro TV @LeFigaroTV]

Mercosur : «Qu'on m'explique comment on va faire la différence entre du sucre brésilien et du sucre français! On nous parle de clauses de réciprocité mais ce n'est techniquement pas possible. Ce sont des fausses promesses», pointe un céréalier de l'Aisne en direct de Strasbourg.

[Polona Scheuba @PScheuba]

RT @COPACOGECA: 🔴🔴Act II of European farmers’ mobilisation, 6⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣ farmers from 15 EU Member States stood shoulder to shoulder, blocking…

[La FNSEA @FNSEA]

🚜 Des tracteurs à perte de vue, symbole d’un monde agricole mobilisé, fier et déterminé.

Ce que vous voyez ici n���est pas une contestation de plus :
c’est l’expression d’un ras-le-bol profond et d’un appel clair à l’action politique des eurodéputés.

[COPA-COGECA @COPACOGECA]

We are in front of the European Parliament 🇪🇺

🎤 Copa's President @masgiansanti: Those who tought we were done in Brussels were wrong !
We are here, battling for our future!

Question for MEPs: Will you protect farmers? @EPPGroup @TheProgressives @RenewEurope @ecrgroup @Left_EU @GreensEFA

[Pascal Canfin @pcanfin]

On #Mercosur, some in the EPP persist in democratic denial and want to use every trick in the book - especially secret ballot - to force the adoption of this trade agreement and to vote down the referral to the Court of Justice of the EU.
This is an utter sign of weakness.

[COPA-COGECA @COPACOGECA]

🔴Mercosur flawed deal pushed through Council, European farmers’ mobilisation continues!

No surprise today in Brussels: the EU-Mercosur deal was approved at the Council of the European Union following months of unprecedented maneuvering and pressure that confirm the complexity and divisiveness of this file, while leaving long-term marks.

🛑Despite the latest adjustments to the additional safeguard measures, European farming and agri-cooperative organisations remain unanimous and united in denouncing a deal which remains fundamentally unbalanced and flawed in its core. This deep conviction only strengthens our determination and mobilisation.

👀It is now up to the European Parliament, our 720 elected representatives, to vote on this agreement in good conscience. The Council’s last-minute decision to withdraw the declaration guaranteeing no provisional implementation of the agreement before the European Parliament has the chance to have its say, despite past promises that this would not happen, is extremely concerning. It erodes trust in European governance, democratic processes and parliamentary scrutiny at a time when institutional credibility is already under strain.

🟰It also reveals both nervousness and that a majority against the deal is still possible/likely.

🔜Copa and Cogeca leadership will meet on Monday to plan the next steps in our mobilisation.

🔗Download our statement: https://t.co/rxrwQsjJ0s

[Polona Scheuba @PScheuba]

Well, this concession actually supports all 🇪🇺 farmers, not only the French. Also the Austrian fruit and veg growers are not unhappy with it 😉

[Eddy Wax ** @EddyWax]

Another big concession from Brussels for French cereals farmers

[Jacob Wulff Wold @wulffwold]

And there is Meloni claiming victory. Deal sealed

[Robert Božič @70RobertB]

Zakaj ni dobro podpisovati sporazume s stisnjenimi zobmi in figo v žepu? Bo podpis sporazuma Mercosur, ki ga bodo EU kmetje pospremili s protesti, tudi začetek konca? Kako bo Trump odreagiral na expanzijo Kitajske?
https://t.co/pMBY9K3cpr

[COPA-COGECA @COPACOGECA]

🚨Tomorrow, an extraordinary meeting of agricultural Ministers will be held in Brussels, with several Commissioners in attendance. There is a stated objective: to provide answers to the agricultural protest of December 18th.

📨Copa and Cogeca wrote to Ministers ahead of the meeting, we remain clear on at least three fundamental requests.

❗️A strong, common and well-funded #CAP / #MFF that provides solutions and supports
❗️Fair and transparent trade that effectively safeguards our production standards and most sensitive sectors while helping improve competitiveness
❗️Real simplification, better regulation and legal certainty agenda

As over 10,000 of us have stated, we need results and tangible solutions for our farms and agri-cooperatives. Today’s challenges demand real answers not quick fixes and cosmetic changes!
➡️The future of 450 million EU citizens’ food security is at stake.

[Polona Scheuba @PScheuba]

It sounds good at first. But we should not forget that residues do not always reflect what is really used in production and 🍎🍑🍒🥔 are only checked on the border very occasionally. I wonder if these announcements will truly help – it is probably rather smoke and mirrors again.

[Annie Genevard @AnnieGenevard]

⚠️ J'ai pris la décision de suspendre l’entrée sur notre territoire des denrées alimentaires contenant des résidus de plusieurs substances interdites en Europe.

On ne peut pas accepter que des substances bannies chez nous réapparaissent indirectement par le biais des importations. C'est du bon sens.

D'où qu'ils viennent dans le monde, les produits importés doivent respecter nos normes. La France montre l'exemple en Europe en prenant cet arrêté d'une ampleur inédite qui concerne plus d'une dizaine de produits alimentaires.

Melons, pommes, abricots, cerises, fraises, raisins, pommes de terre : ils ne seront commercialisés en France que s'ils ne présentent aucun résidu de ces substances interdites chez nous. Équité et justice pour nos agriculteurs. Légitime protection pour notre agriculture.

D'autres produits d'Amérique du Sud comme les avocats, la goyave ou certains agrumes venant d'ailleurs ne pourront venir que s'ils respectent nos normes.

Protéger nos agriculteurs, garantir la sécurité sanitaire des Français et lutter fermement contre toute forme de concurrence déloyale en faisant respecter nos règles : c’est une exigence non négociable.
À la Commission européenne de le généraliser. S'il faut le refaire, nous le referons.

[COPA-COGECA @COPACOGECA]

📄 Food & Feed Safety Omnibus: additional tools for farmers but real solutions still missing

Farmers face unprecedented challenges: rising climate pressures, emerging pests, and a shrinking toolbox to protect their crops.

The lack of efficient and accessible solutions is causing yields in some sectors to stagnate or worse, decline📉

‼️Without urgent action, Europe’s food security and farmers’ livelihoods are at risk.

🔗 Read full press release: https://t.co/rxrwQsjJ0s

[COPA-COGECA @COPACOGECA]

📢Copa Cogeca announced 10 000 participants, we hold our promises!

In a powerful display of unity, Copa Cogeca did everything so that 10,000 farmers from all 27 EU Member States gathered today in Brussels for a peaceful march, sending a clear and unified message to the EU institutions: the three challenges facing agriculture are shared across the continent, and the time for action is now.

🔗Read full press release: https://t.co/rxrwQsjJ0s

#FarmersProtestEU #EnoughSmokeAndMirrors

[Polona Scheuba @PScheuba]

Start der neuen Kommission: Hoffnung auf mehr Stellenwert für die LW. Realität: massive GAP-Kürzungen, gefährdete zweite Säule (u.A. Tierwohl & Umwelt) und Mercosur-Deal mit Importen nach niedrigeren Standards. Am 18.12. reden wir Klartext! 🚜🚨👩‍🌾

[COPA-COGECA @COPACOGECA]

🚨On December 18, 1⃣0⃣ 0⃣0⃣0⃣farmers are expected in Brussels to denounce the EU’s growing ‘smoke-and-mirrors’ approach to agriculture🚨

Since 2024, farmers have consistently warned the EU about CAP and budget reforms, excessive regulation that restricts agricultural initiative, and the drive to conclude unacceptable trade deals such as with Mercosur.

Now, at the end of 2025, expectations remain unmet. The Commission’s determination to push ahead regardless would be a historic mistake for the European project, its farmers, and consumers alike.

As such @COPACOGECA are calling for a pan-European day of protest, just hours before President von der Leyen departs for Brazil to sign the Mercosur deal and while EU heads of state and government meet for a key session of the European Council on the future EU budget.

Around 4⃣0⃣forty farming organisations from across Europe have already confirmed their participation. We are expecting 10,000 farmers to deliver a strong and united message to the Commission. We can no longer settle for rhetoric.

We need bold, clear and tangible solutions for our farms and agri-cooperatives, namely:
📢A strong, common and well-funded CAP post-2027
📢Fair and transparent trade rules that protect EU standards and the most sensitive sectors
📢Real simplification, better regulation and legal certainty

🔗Read full Statement ➡️https://t.co/rxrwQsjJ0s

[COPA-COGECA @COPACOGECA]

🚨Just hours before the @Europarl_EN and @EU_Commission discuss the Multiannual Financial Framework, one thing is clear➡️the cosmetic tweaks proposed by President @vonderleyen over the weekend are not just marginal concessions, they are a provocation.

Marginal adjustments to the MFF and CAP fall far short of what is needed to safeguard farmers’ livelihoods and EU food security❗️

🐷💄This is just putting lipstick on a pig as we say in English! Farmers and rural communities deserve real answers, real funding and real solutions, not smoke and mirrors💨

Today, we will listen closely the debate and we expect MEPs to stand firm and not be fooled by this political trick !

[COPA-COGECA @COPACOGECA]

👎 Congratulations to President @vonderleyen for managing to capture unanimous attention in the @Europarl_EN tonight: ALL EUROPEAN PARTIES expressed their concerns about how agriculture is being treated within the NRPP, despite the last-minute cosmetic changes proposed over the weekend.

🚨Even more worrying: despite unanimous critics, the President of the @EU_Commission paid no heed to these well-founded concerns!

👍As many MEPs highlighted, this is only the beginning of a long process, and we therefore call on the European Parliament and the @EUCouncil to show firmness.

⚠️ After this hearing, Copa-Cogeca remains more mobilised than ever on an issue that is vital for millions of farmers, cooperatives, and rural communities. EU farming deserves better than smoke and mirrors.

[Luc Vernet @LucVERNET]

It is difficult to understand the positive reactions to the adjustment proposals submitted by President @vonderleyen on the EU budget. Those ideas do not address the questions rightly raised by the leaders of the main political groups regarding the loss of autonomy of the CAP, the marginalisation of the European Parliament in defining key parameters of this policy, not to mention the budgetary equation, which remains highly problematic. https://t.co/CZ2cRnQWOw

[COPA-COGECA @COPACOGECA]

🚨The new propositions put forward by @EU_Commission President @vonderleyen this weekend on #MFF & #CAP to answer @Europarl_EN critics are nothing but cosmetic, marginal and technical.
For @COPACOGECA this is simply smoke and mirrors. ➡️MEPs seriously considering the challenges faced by agriculture can not accept such a proposal.

📨Read full letter from Copa and Cogeca Presidents to @Europarl_EN 👇