Budapest has announced a tightening of controls on grain shipments, aiming to ensure that Ukrainian grain moving through Hungarian territory actually reaches the intended destination countries and does not stall in Central European markets. This stance, conveyed by Istvan Nagy, who heads Hungary’s Ministry of Agriculture, reflects a broader concern about how grain flows affect regional markets and farmer livelihoods across Europe. The measure is presented as a safeguard to maintain orderly trade and prevent market distortions that could arise if Ukrainian agricultural products were to flood local markets at prices considered unfair by many European producers.
Nagy emphasized that the European Commission does not support a sweeping reintroduction of duties on Ukrainian agricultural goods. In light of that position, Hungary is taking a provisional step to reintroduce both tax and quantitative restrictions on the import of Ukrainian grain and oilseeds. The goal, according to the ministry, is to create a temporary framework that protects farm incomes and stabilizes market prices while the EU continues to seek a balanced, long-term approach to the Ukraine grain situation.
Budapest also announced ongoing vigilance over imports, with special attention directed toward transit shipments. The intent is to verify that goods in transit actually depart Hungary rather than lingering in the country’s border or logistics hubs. This approach seeks to ensure that transit traffic serves its intended purpose and that Hungarian borders function as a controlled passage rather than a loophole in the regional supply chain.
In parallel developments, several former heads of government from Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Slovakia urged the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to intervene in the ongoing crisis spurred by the influx of Ukrainian grain. Their appeal underscores concerns about market stability, farm viability, and the broader economic impact of grain movements across the European Union.