Ukraine’s accession to the EU is not beneficial for Polish farmers; we must protect our interests; talk about the fact that agricultural products from Ukraine, for example, will not reach Poland twenty years after Ukraine’s accession to the EU – said Deputy Minister of Agriculture Michał Kołodziejczak (KO) on RMF FM.
When asked about Ukraine’s admission to the European Union, Kołodziejczak said that “there are certain processes that we, as Poland, cannot stop on our own.”
Instead of building up certain fears and anxieties, issuing a strong veto: we will not accept it – it will unfortunately be a waste of time. We must realize this. This will be a long process and we need to be aware of that. Instead, Poland and the EU must be prepared for this accession process to enter the next phase
– he pointed out.
According to Kołodziejczak, Ukraine’s accession to the EU is “very unfavorable for Polish farmers and entrepreneurs”.
Agriculture in Ukraine is dominated by about 95 farms – these are holding companies, large companies that own half of the agricultural land in Ukraine. One farm is the size of five to six provinces in Poland
– he explained.
Therefore, Poland – as he noted – must safeguard its interests.
For example, just as Germany did when Poland joined the EU, the labor market for Poland was frozen for eight years (…). Today we have to talk about the fact that agricultural products from Ukraine – both raw and processed – will only reach Poland twenty years after Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
– he said.
Kołodziejczak added that his job is to convince the European Commission that Ukrainian agriculture can destabilize food security in every EU country.
We can open the door and say: we close our farms because their vegetation has no meaning for us
– he assessed.
He announced that one of the elements of protecting the interests of Polish farmers will be the introduction of a law under which companies will not be allowed to purchase products whose prices are lower than the cost of production.
I think Prime Minister Donald Tusk is fully aware of this. This is a man who listens
– he said.
“The country should be in Polish hands”
Kołodziejczak also commented on land ownership in Poland.
I believe that the country should be in Polish hands. As the Constitution says, the basis of the agricultural system in Poland is a family farm, up to 300 hectares. Today there are very few such farms
– he pointed out.
The new Deputy Minister of Agriculture also announced a meeting with representatives of the largest supermarkets in Poland.
I would like to know why this supply chain is so long, why supermarkets so rarely buy directly from Polish farmers and why the final price on the store shelf is often many times higher than at the manufacturer’s.
– he said.
tkwl/PAP/RMF FM
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Source: wPolityce