Ukrainian cereals: EU embarrassment over outcry in Central Europe

Farmers' protest in front of the European Commission Representative Office in Bucharest, 7 April 2023. Proof that in Romania too, in Eastern Europe, anger is rising. AP - Andreea Alexandru

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The decision of Poland, then Hungary and now Slovakia, to suspend imports of Ukrainian cereals, was deemed "unacceptable" by the European Commission in a first reaction, Sunday, April 16. Since then, the Commission has put nuances in its assessment, because in reality it is torn between the need to support Kiev and the need to protect EU farmers. The impact of lower cereal prices is creating bottlenecks in Central and Eastern Europe which must also be taken into account.

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With our correspondent in Brussels, Pierre Benazet

It is not a question of sanctions, but of finding solutions in favour of Ukrainians and Europeans, says the Commission. She stressed that Ukraine's neighbouring countries had done their utmost to help it and that difficulties should not be created for their populations.

The intention to help Ukraine remains the priority, but the Union could reinstate some tariffs, according to Miriam Garcia Ferrer, spokesperson for the European Commissioner for Trade.

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Trade policy is our exclusive competence, she recalls. It is at European level that such decisions can be taken and that is why we say that unilateral actions are not possible under European trade rules. We have a deep free trade agreement with Ukraine and we propose to extend it, because it is very important to continue to support Ukraine in these difficult times.

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Brussels sees the fall in grain prices as a positive effect of supporting Ukraine. But these tensions with European producers point to difficulties that the agricultural chapter will pose on the still distant day when negotiations for Ukraine's accession to the EU begin.

► Read also Poland and Hungary put the stop on agricultural imports from Ukraine, Brussels reacts

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Read on on the same topics:

  • European Union
  • Ukraine
  • Poland
  • Hungary
  • Slovakia
  • Agriculture and Fisheries