The European Commission proposes to ban imports of agricultural products from Ukraine to five "frontline" countries
This concerns imports of five "most vulnerable" products: corn, wheat, rapeseed, sunflower, and sunflower oil
The European Commission and five frontline countries – Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria – are close to reaching a solution to the problem of imports of Ukrainian agricultural products.
This was stated by European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
"The Commission's proposal is to introduce a temporary ban on imports. Not for the entire European Union, but only for five "frontline" countries for the five most vulnerable products, namely corn, wheat, rapeseed, sunflower, and sunflower oil," the European Commissioner said at a press conference following a meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Luxembourg (AGRIFISH).
Wojciechowski noted that Poland and other representatives of the five countries proposed to ban imports of eight other products, including honey, sugar, poultry, meat, and dairy products.
"But I think that the importance of this part of additional products is not so great," the European Commissioner said. He added that the top five products accounted for 90% of imports, while the eight additional products – for about 10% on average.
"I think we are very, very close to the solution though, and we have a great agreement on five products," Wojciechowski pointed out.
It is noted that the ban is currently proposed to be introduced by 5 June, but it is likely to be extended until the end of the year. "The Commission is open to this proposition, but legally we can make a decision by 5 June," the European Commissioner said.
The European Commissioner stressed that "unilateral measures by countries are not a solution". According to him, measures are needed at the European level.
Wojciechowski added that other solutions to the problem included investigations into imports of a number of products from Ukraine and EU financial assistance to farmers in the "frontline countries".
Previously. Mind reported about what had changed after a week of the blockade of Ukrainian agricultural products by the EU countries, and why the European Commission's unconditional support had actually been overestimated.
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