The governments of Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland and Slovakia are urging the European Commission to extend the moratorium on imports of agricultural goods from Ukraine. This stance was voiced by Istvan Nagy, who leads Hungary’s Ministry of Agriculture, and was relayed through Hungary’s online trade publication vilaggazdasag. Nagy emphasized that the EC should maintain the prohibition on Ukrainian grain after September 15, aligning Hungary with Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia on this matter. The central aim, he argued, is to safeguard the interests of European farmers who face competition from cheap grain and the risks it poses to domestic markets. This position reflects a broader concern across these member states about market stability, price supports, and farm viability in the face of persistent influxes of Ukrainian agricultural products. (citation: European Commission briefing)
Nagy noted that the extension is necessary to protect farmers’ incomes and to prevent a destabilizing price squeeze that could erode the viability of European grain sectors. He pointed to the EU-wide framework as essential for providing a predictable market environment, which in turn supports investment in local farming and rural communities. The argument rests on preventing a sudden shift in supply that could overwhelm storage facilities, logistics networks, and processing industries across Central Europe. (citation: regional agricultural policy report)
In their shared position, the five states stress that continuing the ban would help avoid the erosion of producer margins and the loss of market share by domestic producers. The hesitation to lift the cap stems from concerns about long-term competitiveness, potential distortions in state aid, and the need for coherent policy that aligns with the European agricultural strategy. Hungary has highlighted that compensation received from the European Union, totalling 15.93 million euros, is a small amount relative to the scale of observed losses, underscoring the urgent need for protective measures. (citation: EU agricultural fund briefing)
Previously, Hungary’s Ministry of Agriculture spoke in favor of extending the grain agreement, arguing that the risk of ongoing losses and the risk of market paralysis in Central Europe justified maintaining stricter controls. The aim is not merely to shield farmers but to maintain orderly trade balances and prevent a flood of imports from destabilizing national storage and distribution channels. The broader implication touches on how the EU can balance humanitarian support and open trade with the need for robust, sustainable farming across member states. (citation: regional trade analysis)
Former Polish academic Arkadiusz Artyshak has drawn attention to the sheer volume of Ukrainian grain imports affecting several countries, signaling how the issue is both regional and systemic. The analysis underscores the complexity of aligning national agricultural interests with EU-wide objectives, particularly given the diverse farming structures and market sizes across the bloc. The conversation continues to center on ensuring fair competition, stabilizing futures prices, and maintaining cross-border supply chain resilience. (citation: market impact study)