The European Commission has acknowledged the scale and urgency of the challenges Poland and other member states are facing. Andrzej Sadoś, Poland’s permanent representative to the European Union, spoke to journalists in Brussels after a video briefing led by European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis. The briefing included ministers from five countries whose leaders had written to the Commission about Ukrainian agricultural products.
There is still work to be done. The Commission has issued proposals that require careful examination. These proposals address agricultural, trade and infrastructure policies, reflecting one important part of the discussion: the need to enhance border and railway infrastructure to streamline the transport and export of Ukrainian agricultural products to third countries, ensuring smoother and more reliable supply lines.
Poland’s representative noted that while the Commission has acted, the measures announced so far are not enough. The ongoing discussions will continue, and ministers from the participating countries, along with President Valdis Dombrovskis and Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski, agreed on the importance of sustaining these talks.
As he stressed, the Commission’s preliminary assessment indicates that problems were signaled as far back as July of the previous year by countries neighboring Ukraine. These concerns were repeatedly discussed by agriculture ministers and were included in a formal letter sent at the end of March, a move urged by the Polish Prime Minister. The situation calls for urgent attention and coordinated action.
The next round of talks is scheduled for the coming Tuesday during a meeting of agriculture ministers in Luxembourg.
EU Commissioners Outline a Unified Approach to Ukrainian Agricultural Imports
In addressing the challenges posed by Ukrainian agricultural imports, it is essential to adopt a common European approach rather than resorting to unilateral measures. This stance was reflected in a joint statement from EU Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis and EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski following a video conference with representatives from five neighboring member states.
Representatives from Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Romania, together with Ukraine, were present. The Commission outlined a comprehensive package designed to address the concerns of those five member states regarding the impact on European producers of certain products. The package includes a second round of financial assistance for affected farmers, targeted protection measures for key products, and steps to facilitate the transit of Ukrainian grain exports through solidarity routes.
The package hinges on member states removing unilateral restrictions and emphasizes the value of a rapid, united EU approach. The aim is to avoid a patchwork of bans that could undermine the internal market and complicate cross-border trade. The authors of the statement underscored the need for swift political consultations to reach a common solution.
The Commission noted the views articulated by participants and reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing discussions in the coming days to reach a timely and effective resolution.
The exchange of views concluded with a shared intention to pursue a swift path toward a workable framework that supports farmers in the impacted regions while preserving market stability across the European Union.
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