European nurseries sound the alarm in Brussels
The European Nurserystock Association launched its new policy manifesto outlining four key demands
Print13 August 2026
The European Nurserystock Association (ENA) launched its 2026 manifesto – “More plants more life” at the European Parliament in Brussels.
Representing over 35,000 nurseries and 250,000 employees, the sector warns that Europe’s climate and biodiversity targets are unattainable if the nursery sector remains under-recognised in EU policy and funding.
“Europe’s climate goals are not just a matter of policy; they are a matter of planting. You cannot restore a continent or cool a city without a healthy, innovative nursery sector,” Tim Van Hulle, president of ENA, said.
The manifesto calls for technical alignment of EU regulations to ensure a stable supply of high-quality planting stock.
During an interactive session hosted by Member of the European Parliament – Dario Nardella, ENA delegates and EU officials discussed the urgent need to future-proof the nursery supply chain.
Despite its classification as an agricultural sector under EU treaties, many nursery producers currently face limited access to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and disaster aid, particularly those using modern container-growth systems.
Currently, container nurseries are excluded from several support mechanisms in various Member States, despite their high-tech and water-efficient production methods. ENA calls for full eligibility in CAP revision, including access to eco-schemes and disaster aid for all nursery types.
The sector, generating €10.6 billion in annual output, faces increasing pressure from climate-induced losses, which have exceeded €160 million for the sector in recent years.
Nurseries are the primary suppliers of the “living green infrastructure” needed for carbon sequestration, urban cooling, and ecosystem restoration.
The manifesto highlights that while the EU aims to plant 3 billion additional trees and restore large-scale ecosystems through the Nature Restoration Law, the production chain behind these goals is under heavy pressure from rising costs and climate-induced losses, exceeding €160 million in recent years.
The “More plants more life” Manifesto outlines four critical priorities:
1. Formal recognition: full inclusion of all nursery types (container and open-field) in the CAP and national strategic plans.
2. Standardised procurement: mandatory use of high-quality, climate-resilient, and disease-free planting stock in EU projects.
3. Carbon credits: recognition of nursery-grown plants within the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF).
4. Targeted funding: access to SME-friendly funding for water efficiency, peat alternatives, and biosecurity.
Read more: Irish public warned of plant health risks as EU campaign launches
© 2026, Growtrade.ie by Patryk Goron
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