On Sunday evening, talks between the European Union and the European Commission about agricultural imports from Ukraine concluded with a constructive note. The participants signaled that the discussions are moving in a favorable direction, according to Andrzej Sadoś, Poland’s Permanent Representative to the EU.
Officials from the bloc noted that the European Commission is receptive to the concerns raised by member states. The dialogue followed a joint letter from the agriculture ministers of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria submitted on Friday. Poland has highlighted that some products were not included in that list.
Sados described the exchange to PAP as part of a cooperative effort toward practical solutions.
Special protection procedure
The letter from the five countries proposed a cadre of products for a special protection procedure within the EU. This would allow banning imports of those items from Ukraine into the five states and rerouting supply through other EU markets. According to PAP information, Poland has also requested that applesauce and concentrated products be added to this list.
The European Commission, as PAP reported, appears open to expanding the list with further items. Specific technical details remain to be agreed, including data on transport costs, storage challenges, and, for fruit, space constraints in cold storage facilities.
Member states asked for clarity on how long the arrangement should stay in force, suggesting it should extend at least through the end of the year.
The agriculture ministers of Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary sent the EC a letter outlining measures to prevent market disruptions in the EU countries most affected by increased Ukrainian agricultural and food imports.
The letter was addressed to Vice-President of the European Commission and EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski.
Good direction, but more is needed
The ministers acknowledged that the Commission’s proposals to address rising Ukrainian imports head in the right direction, yet they deem them insufficient in their breadth and scope.
They urged that the exceptional safeguard mechanism should cover a wider range of products beyond wheat, maize, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds. The list should also include sunflower oil, flour, honey, sugar, soft fruits, eggs, meat, milk, and dairy products.
The ministers stated that these measures should continue beyond the expiry of the current tariff-elimination arrangement with Ukraine, due to conclude in June.
They also highlighted that the second aid package being prepared under the agricultural reserve for neighboring and border areas is an essential complement to the safeguard measures.
The letter emphasized parallel discussions on additional actions that could help reduce current problems and prevent similar challenges in the future.
[citation: wPolityce]
Source acknowledged: wPolityce