The European Commission proposes to five countries to ban the import of Ukrainian agricultural products by the end of the year
The European Commission is considering a proposal to ban the import of agricultural products from Ukraine to five EU countries by the end of the year.
“We are very close to an agreement that provides for a temporary ban on five Ukrainian products, as well as conducting an investigation, which is provided for in the agreement on trade liberalization with Ukraine,” – Ukrinform quotes the statement of the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski.
He noted that the European Commission may introduce a temporary ban on the import of corn, wheat, rapeseed, sunflower and sunflower oil. This restriction will not apply to the entire EU, but only to five countries – Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.
EU countries also proposed to add honey, sugar, chicken, meat and dairy products to the list. But the European Commission did not support this proposal, because 90% of “problematic” imports from Ukraine are cereals and oils.
“Unilateral measures are not a solution, we need solutions at the European level. After today’s discussions, I hope this decision will be adopted by the EU Council in a spirit of solidarity,” added the European Commissioner.
Previously, the governments of five EU countries addressed the European Commission with a letter, which contains a request to take measures to limit agricultural imports from Ukraine. According to EU member states, the large flow of grain and food products from Ukraine led to a drop in product prices.