The European Union’s govt arm Monday denounced and referred to as “unacceptable” the unilateral bans imposed by Poland and Hungary over the weekend on imports of grain and different meals from Ukraine to guard their native agricultural sectors from an inflow of provide.
Slovakia, in the meantime, stated Monday it could do the identical, and different nations in central and jap Europe stated they had been additionally contemplating motion.
Some Black Sea ports had been blocked after Russia invaded Ukraine in February final yr and enormous portions of Ukrainian grain – cheaper than that produced within the European Union – ended up staying in Central European nations owing to logistical bottlenecks.
Local farmers say this has lowered costs and decreased their gross sales, and governments have requested the European Union to behave.
This mounted stress on governments that had turned to the European Union for motion earlier than Warsaw and Budapest took their very own choices over the weekend. Poland and Hungary are a part of a bunch that sought to have bloc-wide import tariffs as a part of potential measures.
The oversupply has grow to be a political problem for Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) occasion in an election yr, because it has angered folks in rural areas the place help for PiS is often excessive.
“We are aware of Poland and Hungary’s announcements related to the ban on grain imports and other agricultural products from Ukraine,” a spokesperson for the European Commission stated in an emailed assertion.
“In this context, it is important to underline that trade policy is of EU exclusive competence and, therefore, unilateral actions are not acceptable.”
“In such challenging times, it is crucial to coordinate and align all decisions within the EU,” the assertion added.
Poland’s ban on grains additionally utilized to transit by the nation. Officials have stated it’s meant to maintain grain transport from coming into the Polish market.
Kyiv sought to reopen meals and grain transit through Poland as “a first step” to ending import bans at talks in Warsaw on Monday.
“The first step, in our opinion, should be the opening of transit, because it is quite important, and it is something that should be done unconditionally and after that, we will discuss other issues,” stated Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky.
About 10% of meals items Ukraine exports crosses the Polish border, Solsky stated in feedback printed on the Telegram messaging app by the Agriculture Ministry.
He stated deliveries to Hungary accounted for round 6% of Ukraine’s farm exports, including that meals transit through Hungary and Slovakia was unaffected.
He additionally stated there could be extra talks this week in Romania on Wednesday, and in Slovakia on Thursday.
EU joint motion ‘unavoidable’
Farm Minister Istvan Nagy stated Monday that Hungary would use “all possible means” to guard its farmers from market disruptions brought on by enormous grain imports from Ukraine.
Nagy, stated an answer was wanted past the nationwide stage. “Joint European action and EU measures are inevitable,” he careworn.
Polish authorities spokesperson Piotr Muller advised state-run news company PAP that the federal government was in fixed contact with the European Commission on the problem and that the ban was potential on account of a safety clause.
Poland and Hungary have been embroiled in long-running conflicts with Brussels over points together with judicial independence, media freedoms and LGBT rights. Both have had funds withheld on account of considerations over the rule of legislation.
Solsky talked to Hungarian counterpart Istvan Nagy on Sunday and underlined that unilateral choices had been unacceptable, his ministry stated in a press release. The two agreed to speak once more quickly, the supply added.
The ministry on Saturday stated that the Polish ban contradicted current bilateral export agreements, and referred to as for talks to settle the problem.
Meanwhile, a senior EU official stated on Monday that European Union member nations envoys in Brussels would talk about the strikes by Poland and Hungary this week.
The senior EU official, talking below situation of anonymity, stated low international costs and demand meant grain was staying within the bloc quite than being offered on.
“We expect Poland and Hungary to offer some explanation and there will also be a reaction by the European Commission,” stated the official, including that the matter was raised on the final summit of EU nationwide leaders, together with by Slovakia and Romania.
“There is an issue and we expect the Commission to come up with a proposal on that… We’ll see what we can do in the coming weeks and months.”
A authorities spokesperson stated Monday that Slovakia deliberate to briefly halt imports of grains and different chosen merchandise from Ukraine.
Transit
The Polish ban, which got here into impact on Saturday night, will as well as apply to the transit of those merchandise by the nation, the event and know-how minister stated on Sunday.
“The ban is all-encompassing, including the ban on transit through Poland,” Waldemar Buda wrote on Twitter, including that talks could be held with Ukraine to create a system that ensures items solely go by Poland and don’t find yourself within the native market.
Poland’s Agriculture Minister Robert Telus was quoted as saying Sunday that the ban was essential to “open the eyes of the EU to the fact that further decisions are needed that will allow products from Ukraine to go deep into Europe, and not stay in Poland.”
The ban is because of final till June 30, the finance ministry stated.
Ukraine often exports most of its agricultural items, particularly grain, through its Black Sea ports, which had been unblocked in July consistent with an settlement between Ukraine, Türkiye, Russia and the United Nations.
That accord is scheduled to run out on May 18 and Moscow indicated final week that it might not be prolonged until the West removes obstacles to exports of Russian grains and fertilizers.
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Pawel Jablonski advised radio station RMF that talks with Ukraine may not less than relieve the tensions with farmers in central-eastern Europe.
“We want to lead to a situation where not even the smallest grain transport, which is to be exported, (is) introduced to the Polish market,” he stated.
“The ultimate goal is not that the import ban will be in force indefinitely, but to ensure that grain from Ukraine, which is to be exported, goes (where it is headed),” Jablonski added.
In a letter to the European Commission final month, the prime ministers of Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia stated there had been an unprecedented improve in shipments of merchandise together with grains, oilseeds, eggs, poultry and sugar.
They stated tariffs on Ukrainian agricultural imports needs to be thought-about. States have pushed for a purchase order mechanism to scoop up a budget grain.
Jablonski stated the letter had but to obtain any response.
Around 3 million tons of grain left Ukraine each month through the Black Sea grain hall, whereas solely as much as 200,000 tons are transferring to European ports by Polish territory, based on the Ukrainian ministry.
Solsky stated in the course of the weekend that 500,000 to 700,000 tonnes of varied agricultural merchandise cross the Polish border each month, together with grain, vegetable oil, sugar, eggs, meat and different merchandise.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
