The European Commission has lifted the embargo on the supply of Ukrainian grain to EU countries. This is reported on the organization’s website.
The commission concluded that thanks to restrictions on the export of Ukrainian grain introduced in May 2023, market distortions in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia disappeared. In addition, as noted in the EC, a balanced policy regarding the supply of agricultural products from Ukraine has led to an increase in the export of Ukrainian grain from EU countries to third countries.
In turn, Ukraine, as the commission emphasized, agreed to introduce various legal measures (including an export licensing system) within 30 days to avoid uncontrolled supplies of grain to the market.
From September 16, Ukraine must control the export of four types of agricultural products to prevent market distortions in neighboring countries. The EC also obliged Kyiv to submit an action plan by September 18.
“The European Commission will refrain from introducing any restrictions as long as effective measures on the part of Ukraine are in place and are fully operational,” the organization said.
In turn, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky thanked the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen for lifting the grain embargo.
“Now it is important that European unity works at the bilateral level. So that Ukraine’s neighbors support Ukraine during the war. And if their decisions violate EU law, Ukraine will respond in a civilized manner,” he emphasized.
At the same time, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that his country would extend restrictions on the import of Ukrainian grain from midnight on September 16, explaining the blocking of transit “in the interests of Polish farmers.”
The governments of Slovakia and Hungary took the same position.
In early August, a conflict broke out between Poland and Ukraine due to the former’s reluctance to allow Ukrainian grain into the country and the EU market. Then Prime Minister Morawiecki said that the influx of relatively cheap agricultural products from Ukraine was hitting the incomes of Polish farmers, who because of this could not sell their grain. Prime Minister Denis Shmygal called Warsaw’s intentions to block the import of Ukrainian crops in the future an unfriendly step. As a result, the conflict reached the level of presidents of countries.
Ukrainian grain and elections to the Polish parliament. What caused the diplomatic conflict between Warsaw and Kiev:
On April 28, the European Commission reached an agreement with Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia to limit the export of grain and other food products from Ukraine. From May 2 to June 5, there was a ban on the free circulation of wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds in the listed countries. After this, the embargo was extended until September 15.
