EU Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk referred on RMF FM to the words of Ukraine’s Deputy Economy Minister: if Poland implements any ban on the import of Ukrainian grain after September 15, “Ukraine will bring a case against Poland and the EU will to the World Trade Organization.” “This is a threat and this is one of the next elements of pressure from the Ukrainian side,” the EU minister said.
These elements sometimes go beyond certain frameworks of Ukraine’s classical diplomacy. Ukraine is a country at war, it uses various forms of diplomatic pressure, sometimes very different and crossing certain borders. We are not impressed because our priority is to protect Polish farmers and Polish citizens. And these kinds of gestures or threats do not impress us, they are simply an element of pressure, but pressure that will not be effective
he stressed Szymon Szynkowski, aka Sęk.
Because there are no actions at EU level, sometimes elements of national actions have to be used, but we fight for decisions to be taken at EU level. We have strong arguments. They are presented by both the Agriculture Minister and Commissioner Wojciechowski at the EC Forum to extend this decision
– added.
Ban on grain imports from Ukraine
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 if the European Commission did not extend the ban on grain imports from Ukraine after September 15, Poland would close the border to these goods. Minister Telus then said that the heads of the ministries of agriculture, the so-called Frontline countries, want the ban to remain in force at least until the end of the year.
tkwl/RMF FM/PAP
READ ALSO:
— The problem with Ukrainian grain. Saryusz-Wolski: It was a unilateral gesture of goodwill, not a bilateral legal obligation
— Will Ukrainian grain enter Poland on September 15? Ardanowski makes it clear: he will not enter. ‘These are the interests of large companies’
– Minister Telus: We will stop grain imports from Ukraine if the EC does not extend the ban. ‘I think all EU ministers understand the situation’
Source: wPolityce