The Polish government has passed a resolution banning the import of grain from Ukraine to Poland. The issue was commented on by Minister Robert Telus, who drew attention to the need to protect Polish agriculture. As Deputy Prime Minister Kaczyński said: “We are ready to support Ukraine, but at the same time we must also think about our agriculture.” Prime Minister Morawiecki announced that the embargo would be extended regardless of the European Commission’s decision.
It states that if the European Commission does not extend the ban on the import of Ukrainian grain after September 15, Poland will extend it itself.
– informs TVP Info.
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The Minister of Agriculture assured that if the European Commission does not take an appropriate decision, Poland itself will ban the import of Ukrainian grain.
The resolution is addressed to the European Commission; If the Commission does not take a decision, we will certainly introduce our own regulations, which will prohibit the entry into Poland – but not its transit – of Ukrainian grain, as has been the case so far, until the situation in Polish-Ukrainian trade relations are settled.
– he said.
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According to Telus, such a decision will benefit Polish farmers.
The fact that the Council of Ministers has taken such a decision benefits farmers, the Polish economy and European solidarity and promotes food security not only in Poland, but around the world.
– he said.
There are no substantive reasons not to extend the embargo; there are only political decisions
– added.
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Call to extend the ban
The Council of Ministers calls on the European Commission to extend the ban on the import of grain from Ukraine after September 15 this year. Otherwise, Poland will independently introduce such a ban at national level – the Prime Minister’s Chancellery announced after the government meeting.
As the Prime Minister’s Chancellery added, the Council of Ministers on Tuesday adopted a resolution on taking measures aimed at expanding preventive measures regarding the import of certain products from Ukraine, submitted by the Minister of Development and Technology .
It added that the government calls on the European Commission to: extend the import ban from Ukraine of four agricultural products after September 15, 2023: wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds; and take immediate action to develop solutions that enable the stable and effective functioning of local producers in Poland and the EU.
It was emphasized that if the European Commission does not extend the ban on grain imports from Ukraine after September 15, Poland will introduce such a ban at national level. As added, the ban will remain in force until agricultural relations between Poland and Ukraine are settled.
The government does not agree that Ukrainian grain will destabilize the domestic agricultural market. We help our neighbor, but we must protect Polish farmers
– indicated.
It was recalled that Poland has been cooperating for months with Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria to jointly pursue farmers’ interests before the European Commission; As a result, the EC has introduced a ban on the import of grain from Ukraine until September 15.
EU action
Further talks will take place in Brussels and Strasbourg on the future of the embargo on Ukrainian grain against five EU countries, including Poland, which expires on September 15. Poland believes that it should be extended due to the market situation. According to unofficial information from PAP, EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski will take part in a debate in the European Parliament on Ukrainian grain.
Diplomats from five EU countries – Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Hungary – will meet in Brussels to discuss the embargo on Ukrainian grain and the situation on agricultural markets. On the same day, the College of EU Commissioners will meet at the European Parliament in Strasbourg and the topic of Ukrainian grain will reappear in the discussion of the EU executive. The final decision on whether to extend the embargo will be taken by the European Commission.
mly/tvp.info/PAP
Source: wPolityce