Hungary can independently extend the ban on the import of Ukrainian grain

The Hungarian authorities want the EU ban on the domestic sale of Ukrainian grain to be extended, even after the current measures expire on September 15.

“Hungary will ask the EU to extend the ban from September 16,” Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Chief of Staff Gergey Guyyás said.

He added that Hungary is ready to reimpose a national ban on imports if the EU does not extend the measure.

In May, the European Union allowed Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia to ban domestic sales of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds, while allowing the transit of such goods for export to other countries. This ban expires on September 15.

Instead, Poland has already stated that it will not cancel the ban, even if the EU does not agree to its extension.

The vast majority of the member states of the European Union do not support the extension after September 15 of the embargo on the import of grain from Ukraine, and in case of unilateral steps by Poland, some countries may resort to countermeasures.