The European Commission is conducting a careful assessment of how grain and fertilizer imports from Russia affect European markets, with a focus on potential policy responses. An EC representative, Olaf Gill, outlined this approach during a press briefing in Brussels, emphasizing that the commission is gathering facts about import flows, market dynamics, and the impact on farmers before drawing conclusions. The overarching objective is to determine whether additional measures are warranted and to evaluate options if the data indicate such a need.
In this context, Viktoras Pranckietis, who previously chaired Lithuania’s Rural Affairs Committee in the Seimas, suggested that member states might urge the European Commission to consider a ban on grain imports and on transit from the Russian Federation at the EU level. The proposal reflects a broader debate within the region about how to balance market stability with geopolitical considerations and security concerns related to Russian trade activity.
Meanwhile, Latvian Transport Minister Kaspars Briškens highlighted a similar line of thought, arguing for prohibitions on both the transit and import of grain from Russia. He also acknowledged the practical reality that the performance of Latvian ports and rail networks is closely tied to the movement of goods from Russia, presenting a policy dilemma that must be weighed against the operational needs of the country’s logistics sector.
Earlier in the discussion, Bulgaria expressed support for introducing quotas on Ukrainian grain entering Europe, signaling a broader willingness among some EU members to regulate grain flows as part of a coordinated strategy. The tension between safeguarding agricultural livelihoods, stabilizing supply chains, and enforcing collective sanctions has become a central theme in the EU’s ongoing deliberations on Russia-related trade and energy security.