The European Commission called on Poland, Hungary and Slovakia on Sunday to be constructive after they unilaterally declared they would continue to ban grain imports from Ukraine despite the Commission's decision to end the ban.
"We are aware of some Member States' announcements in respect to unilateral measures. What is important right now is that all countries work in the spirit of compromise and engage constructively," a Commission spokeswoman said.
Ukraine was one of the world's top grain exporters before Russia's 2022 invasion reduced its ability to ship agricultural produce to global markets through Black Sea ports. Since then, Ukrainian farmers have relied on grain exports through neighboring countries.
However, the flood of grains and oilseeds into neighboring countries has impacted the income of local farmers and resulted in governments banning agricultural imports from Ukraine.
The European Union in May stepped in to prevent individual countries acting unilaterally and imposed its own ban on imports from Ukraine into neighboring countries. Under the EU ban, Ukraine was allowed to export through those countries on condition the produce was sold elsewhere.
The EU allowed that ban to expire on Friday after Ukraine pledged to take measures to tighten control of exports to neighboring countries.
The issue is a particularly sensitive one in Poland, which is facing elections in October and where farmers are a key electorate of the ruling nationalist PiS party.
Poland, Slovakia and Hungary all announced on Friday they would keep their own restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports despite the Commission's decision.
"Our focus now is to put in place and make work the new system just announced," the Commission spokeswoman said, adding a meeting with representatives of all the interested EU countries on Monday would provide an opportunity to discuss the issue further.
© Thomson Reuters 2023.
7 Comments
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Eastmann
there is no reason to import grain from UA for these countries.
Thuban
Of course in those countries the headline reads:
Poland, Hungary and Slovakia urge the EU to be constructive on Ukraine grain
Europeans seem to be getting tired of Zelensky's blank cheque.
La vie douce
This must be a mistake. Many expert posters on JT have insisted Ukraine grain exports are all about going to Africa and third world to stop world hunger, not flooding eastern European markets and compromising those countries farmers. Is this more of Russian propaganda? Alas this is led by Poland, the staunchest European supporter of Ukraine, definition of an anti - Russian country.
TaiwanIsNotChina
It's almost as if grain can't be miracled to Africa and will instead go where it is cheepest to get to.
La vie douce
It's almost as if grain can't be miracled to Africa and will instead go where it is cheepest to get to."
It's almost as if the JT experts knew all along that the grain was not saving developing world from hunger but was flooding neighboring countries markets despite their farmers and governments objections. If so, why not just admit it instead of pushing a false PR narrative.
Keepyer Internetpoints
Maybe America could buy some grain instead of DU shells to contaminate the grain for once huh?
TaiwanIsNotChina
If more grain is available in one place, then people there stop buying it from other places freeing it up for others. It is almost impossible for Ukraine selling its grain to not lower global grain prices.