DISINFO: Sanctions on Russian fertilisers will fully destroy Europe’s agriculture
SUMMARY
European agriculture will face extinction because of the EU decision to introduce prohibitive tariffs on fertilisers from Russia and Belarus. This step is actively supported by Poland and the European fertiliser producers. However, the farmers are very concerned - the media predict new protests and the complete destruction of European agriculture. Without fertilisers, the farmers’ productivity could fall by 20-40%, and in the event of a drought, most companies will be threatened by bankruptcy. The beneficiary of these sanctions is the USA - the policy of unfair competition strangles the EU economy.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative attempting to delegitimise EU sanctions on Russia, repeatedly presented as “suicidal” and “self-destructive”. This claim is echoing previous similar claims aiming to deflect Russia responsibility for undermining global food security.
The EU has reacted swiftly and strongly to Russia's unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine with unprecedented support to the country and with the largest sanctions packages in the Union's history.
The EU sanctions are legitimate restrictions imposed under both international and European law as a response to violations of legal norms, such as Russia’s actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. The EU established the sanctions regime under its laws, specifically Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014, "concerning restrictive measures because of Russia's actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine."
EU agricultural policy covers a wide range of areas, including food quality, traceability, trade and promotion of EU farm products. There are around 10 million farms in the EU and 17 million people work regularly in the sector. They provide an impressive variety of affordable, safe and high quality products. The EU financially supports its farmers and encourages sustainable and eco-friendly practices, while also investing in the development of rural areas.
See other similar disinformation narratives in our database, such as claims that Farmers protests - the USA is destroying European agriculture through Ukrainisation; that the EU is causing a global food shortage by keeping all the grain from Ukraine; that Western sanctions cause a food crisis and price growth, that the food crisis has nothing to do with the Russian special operation, that Russia places no obstacles on the export of Ukrainian grain, or that Kyiv burned grains in Mariupol and mined the Black Sea to prevent its exportation.