We say an unequivocal +no+ to all Ukrainian oligarchs who want to destabilize the Polish agricultural market, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Friday in Dołhobyczów (Lubelskie Voivodeship). He reiterated that Poland would maintain the ban on grain imports from Ukraine regardless of the European Commission’s decision.
“The interest of the Polish farmer is the most important thing for us”
We say unequivocally and clearly +no+ to all Ukrainian oligarchs who want to destabilize the Polish agricultural market. We say +yes+ to exports via Poland, which have grown in recent months
– emphasized Morawiecki at a press conference at the border crossing with Ukraine in Dołhobyczów. He added that the government is “absolutely” opposed to the disruption of the Polish agricultural market.
The prime minister reiterated that Poland would maintain the ban on the import of four grains from Ukraine after September 15, regardless of the decision of the European Commission, which may not extend the ban.
The interest of the Polish farmer is of the utmost importance to us. Either the Commission will approve a new ban on cereal imports on Wednesday or we will extend it ourselves
he said.
The head of government argued that when there was an uncontrolled import of grain to Poland, “we demanded immediate action from the European Commission.”
At the meeting of the European Council and the President of the Commission, I said clearly that if they do nothing, Poland will implement solutions that will prevent grain and agricultural products from being imported from Ukraine.
he said.
These imports destabilized Polish agricultural markets
said Morawiecki. As he added, there was no response in March and the following month, so in April “we imposed a unilateral ban on the import of agricultural products from Ukraine, especially grains.”
Morawiecki criticized PiS’s political opponents, saying they “woke up suddenly” and “slept for Polish peasants for the most important few months”.
When we acted and acted effectively. And after September 15, we will act effectively
he declared.
Referring to the war in Ukraine, the prime minister stated that “we behaved as we had to”.
We said +yes+ to every woman, every child who came here from Ukraine because they needed help. We said +yes+ to everyone in need, but we unequivocally and clearly say +no+ to all Ukrainian oligarchs who want to destabilize the Polish agricultural market
he reserved.
He explained that the government agrees to export and transit through Polish territory.
This has been going on for several months and exports have increased in those months so it is in your best interest to keep it as it is
he argued.
“We are open to help during transport”
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Robert Telus, announced at the conference in Dołhobyczów that “we will be with the Polish farmers”.
After September 15, grain from Ukraine will definitely not enter the territory of the Republic of Poland
– he noted, adding that “we are open to public transportation assistance, and that is what we have said from the beginning.”
In February, 114,000 people crossed our Polish border. tons continued on the way, in March 120 thousand. show (…). And in June (…) more than 260,000 people crossed the border. show. This shows that throughput has more than doubled
– took note of the Head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
During these six months we have exported more than 7 million tons of grain from Poland
he calculated.
We will also defend our Polish market, because it is in the interest of the Polish farmer, because it is in the interest of Poland, because it is in the interest of the Polish economy. This is the most important thing for us
Telus emphasized.
During the conference, the minister also expressed the view that the Civic Platform was harming Polish farmers – as he noted – not only in Poland, but also in the European Union. He pointed out that “a few weeks ago in the Polish Senate (…) our opposition voted to take this grain, fertilizer, fuel and silo aid from the Polish countryside – of this aid, 6.5 billion PLN of the 10 billion PLN needed for this year.”
In this way, Telus referred to the vote passed on July 27 this year. amendments to the budget by the Senate Budget and Public Finance Committee, according to which the increase of the 500 plus the allowance to PLN 800 would take place from 1 June 2023, using funds from the appropriated reserve to mitigate the economic consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. On July 28, a Senate committee withdrew the amendment.
During Friday’s press conference, the head of the Agriculture Ministry also pointed out that “no opposition member of the European Parliament took part” in the election on August 31 this year. debate on the extension of the deadline for the ban on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine.
This shows (…) that they are hypocrites
Telus said.
This has now revealed who Mr Michał Kołodziejczak is. The one who built himself up as a defender of the Polish countryside went with the greatest traitors of the Polish countryside. He only went to achieve his personal goal
– summarized the head of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The ban on the import of wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflowers from Ukraine to Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia was introduced by the European Commission in early May as a result of an agreement with these countries on Ukrainian agri-food products. Initially, the ban lasted until June 5, then it was extended until September 15. Transit of grains through the areas of the so-called border countries are allowed.
In July, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that Poland would close the border to these goods if the EC did not extend the ban on grain imports from Ukraine after September 15. Agriculture Minister Robert Telus said at the time that the heads of agriculture ministries, the so-called Frontline countries, want the ban to remain in place at least until the end of the year.
kk/PAP
Source: wPolityce