The European Commission has agreed on restrictions on the export of grain from Ukraine

The European Commission reached an agreement with the countries of Central Europe on limiting the export of grain and other food products from Ukraine. It concerns four countries bordering Ukraine: Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, as well as Bulgaria. Earlier, these countries unilaterally imposed an embargo on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products.

How reported European Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Union will take emergency measures to remove Ukrainian grain accumulated in warehouses from these countries. Further imports of wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower from Ukraine will be strictly limited. The European Union will also allocate about 100 million euros to support these countries’ own agriculture. They will be obliged to lift their unilateral sanctions and cooperate with each other and with the European Commission.

At the same time, Ukraine will preserve the transit of its agricultural products through Europe to the countries of Africa and the Middle East.

The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, approved the agreement. “This is how Ukraine will preserve its export opportunities and continue to feed the world, and our farmers will not suffer,” she said.

In May 2022, the European Union temporarily canceled import duties and quotas on the import of grain from Ukraine as a measure to support the economy of the warring country. In addition to grain, duties and quotas were also canceled on other Ukrainian agricultural products, including oilseeds, sugar, poultry and eggs.

Initially, it was assumed that the main part of Ukrainian grain exports through Poland and other bordering countries would be sent to further consumers, including countries in Asia and Africa. However, in fact, a large amount of Ukrainian production settled in Poland, as well as Hungary and Romania, creating competition for local producers.

This caused dissatisfaction among farmers in countries bordering Ukraine. Due to the lack of duties, the influx of cheap Ukrainian production has led to a decrease in the competitiveness of their own production. They cannot reduce the prices of their products, and their production becomes unprofitable. Farmers protested in Poland, Minister of Agriculture Henrik Kowalczyk resigned.

In mid-April, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria and Slovakia introduced a temporary ban on the import of Ukrainian products, and Romania considered similar measures.