2023-07-19 17:38:55
The authorities of Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Romania y Slovakia have advocated this Wednesday for asking the European Union an extension of the ban on Ukrainian grain at least until the end of the year to protect their markets once the current blockade expires, the duration of which ends on September 15.
The Minister of Agriculture of Poland, Robert Telus, has indicated that, after a meeting of five in Warsaw, the capital, his counterparts have shown a “common position” regarding the extension of the veto, which would especially affect the importation of four types of cereals.
Thus, he confirmed that the Ministers of Agriculture of Ukraine and Moldova, also invited to the meeting, They have not attended for “understandable reasons”, He has expressed that he hopes they will do so on future occasions.
In addition, it has specified that both Poland and Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia are willing to collaborate in the “transit” of these grains through their territories. “We want to help Ukraine with transit. We know that this war must be won,” Telus explained, according to information from the Polish news agency PAP.
The minister asserted that the parties have in turn addressed the difficulties caused by the war in Ukraine and have maintained that “it has caused the destabilization of the markets, especially in those countries that share a border with Ukraine.” “This has been especially noticeable in the agricultural market”has added.
For this reason, they have insisted on the need for the European Union to create “a protection mechanism” in this regard and have stressed that Ukrainian grains have continued to be exported in large quantities despite the veto of these countries. “Our decision is not against the EU or Ukraine,” she continued.
The EU allowed these countries in May to block the sale of grains from Ukraine after they alleged damage to the sector internally.
Poland assures that its border will remain closed
The Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawicki, has assured that the country’s borders will remain closed to these imports beyond September 15.
“In less than two months, according to the decision of the European Commission, we have to open the border to these products. I want to make it clear that we will not do it. Either we reach an agreement and the European Commission agrees and extends these regulations or we will themselves”, he ventured after the meeting of ministers from the five countries.
Likewise, he has highlighted that the country “cannot afford to destabilize the market”. “I will be frank, we are not going to open the border (to imports),” she has maintained.
“We will be tough, we will be decisive, we will defend Polish farmers and we will protect them. Poles earn money from transit, it does not threaten the stability of the internal market, which is why we facilitate transit to other countries,” he clarified.
“Anything bad for Polish agriculture must be the blocked one, the modified one, the compensated one“, has affected. “This is the position of the Government of Poland”, has settled.
#War #Ukraine #Bulgaria #Poland #Hungary #Romania #Slovakia #extend #ban #Ukrainian #grain #year