The European Nurserystock Association (ENA) has officially presented its 2026 Manifesto, "More plants more life", to the European Parliament today. With nearly 250,000 full-time workers and 133,000 hectares of production area, the sector positions itself as the essential partner for delivering the EU's biodiversity and climate adaptation targets. The manifesto calls for technical alignment of EU regulations to ensure a stable supply of high-quality planting stock.
© ENA
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. 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.
Levelling the playing field in the CAP
A central theme of the manifesto is the inconsistent recognition of nurseries within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). 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.
Quality and biosecurity as a priority
To ensure the success of the Nature Restoration Law and the "3 Billion Trees" pledge, ENA advocates for mandatory quality procurement. The sector emphasizes that only professional, accredited nurseries can guarantee the disease-free and climate-resilient planting stock required for long-term project survival.
© ENA
Four technical priorities for the sector
1. CAP integration: Formal acknowledgement of the nurserystock sector as a distinct branch of agriculture with access to direct payments and resilience funding.
2. Standardized procurement: Mandatory use of plants that meet quality standards and are climate and location-appropriate in all EU-funded greening projects.
3. CRCF methodology: Development of workable monitoring and verification (MRV) approaches for nursery-grown carbon sequestration.
4. SME-friendly innovation: Dedicated funding for nursery modernization, including water-efficient irrigation and smart mechanization.
Quotes from the spokespersons
Tim Van Hulle, president of ENA: "Our nurseries are the starting point of every green project in Europe. To scale up restoration efforts, we need a regulatory framework that supports the ambitions and challenges of our nurseries, rather than hindering it with administrative burdens. We provide the living tools for a resilient Europe and would like to cooperate and support the EU policy makers to simplify and enhance EU requirements."
Antonio Ceccarelli, chair of the ENA public affairs task force: "We are calling for the harmonization of plant protection rules and organic standards across Member States. A level playing field is essential to maintain our competitiveness against unfair trading practices and to safeguard European biosecurity. We need the EU to count nursery-grown plants as certified carbon removals to unlock new incentives for our growers."
For more information:
European Nurserystock Association
[email protected]
www.enaplants.eu/
