Post by account_disabled on Feb 25, 2024 1:06:17 GMT -5
The EU has ignored Poland's pleas and ended a partial ban on grain imports from Ukraine, instead calling on kyiv to voluntarily prevent production surges in neighboring countries. Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia had demanded that restrictions on four grains, including wheat and corn, which expire on Friday, be maintained until the end of the year to protect their farmers from cheap competition. But weeks before the elections in Warsaw and Bratislava, Brussels concluded that “market distortions” in member states bordering Ukraine had “disappeared” since the temporary ban was introduced in May. Defying Brussels' decision, Poland and Hungary said they would unilaterally apply import restrictions to protect their farmers.
The most important thing is the interest of Polish farmers, not that of Ukrainian oligarchs," Polish Deputy Agriculture Minister Janusz Kowalski told the Financial Times on Friday afternoon. Faced with this Job Function Email Database potential challenge to the European Commission's authority over trade policy, senior EU officials called on member states to "work in a spirit of compromise." Valdis Dombrovskis, EU Trade Commissioner, said that "the best thing, of course, would be for Member States to refrain from unilateral measures." According to several diplomats, the majority of member states also opposed enlargement. The commission said that instead of a formal ban, kyiv would introduce "legal measures" within 30 days "to prevent grain surges." The ban's expiration will appease Ukraine, which had threatened legal action against Brussels.
Ukraine's deputy economy minister, told the Financial Times that kyiv would challenge the EU's move at the World Trade Organization if it extended the measure. "It is important to move from a political debate to a cold legal evaluation," he said, adding that the bans "were not appropriate." Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party needs the support of its rural electorate to win a third term. In recent days, Polish government officials have also raised the issue of Ukraine's bid to join the EU. Agriculture Minister Robert Telus said on Thursday that Ukraine's agricultural industry represents a "threat" to EU farmers and that the country should not be allowed to join the bloc "without conditions." Polish farmers held large protests earlier this year against the government's failure to protect them from the effects of cheap Ukrainian imports, which opposition parties also immediately took advantage of.
The most important thing is the interest of Polish farmers, not that of Ukrainian oligarchs," Polish Deputy Agriculture Minister Janusz Kowalski told the Financial Times on Friday afternoon. Faced with this Job Function Email Database potential challenge to the European Commission's authority over trade policy, senior EU officials called on member states to "work in a spirit of compromise." Valdis Dombrovskis, EU Trade Commissioner, said that "the best thing, of course, would be for Member States to refrain from unilateral measures." According to several diplomats, the majority of member states also opposed enlargement. The commission said that instead of a formal ban, kyiv would introduce "legal measures" within 30 days "to prevent grain surges." The ban's expiration will appease Ukraine, which had threatened legal action against Brussels.
Ukraine's deputy economy minister, told the Financial Times that kyiv would challenge the EU's move at the World Trade Organization if it extended the measure. "It is important to move from a political debate to a cold legal evaluation," he said, adding that the bans "were not appropriate." Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party needs the support of its rural electorate to win a third term. In recent days, Polish government officials have also raised the issue of Ukraine's bid to join the EU. Agriculture Minister Robert Telus said on Thursday that Ukraine's agricultural industry represents a "threat" to EU farmers and that the country should not be allowed to join the bloc "without conditions." Polish farmers held large protests earlier this year against the government's failure to protect them from the effects of cheap Ukrainian imports, which opposition parties also immediately took advantage of.