Problems with Ukrainian grain
Poland carries the heaviest burden in supporting Ukraine, while the European Union provides limited assistance. A deputy head of the parliamentary club PiS, Marek Suski, described EU help as inadequate and even as a measure that would threaten Poland’s food security. He pointed to the many faces of Donald Tusk and questioned when any real change would come.
The PiS MP spoke on Radio Zet about the difficulties faced by Polish farmers due to the large influx of Ukrainian grain. The government is allocating substantial funds to compensate farmers and will introduce controls at borders, seals, and export measures to manage the situation.
Suski attributed the grain market problems to the ongoing war and argued that the EU intends to aid Ukraine by allowing its goods to flood the European market with Poland as the first entry point. He warned that some people expected quick profits by buying Ukrainian grain cheaply and selling it at higher prices, but those expectations were not met. Among the protesters, he said, there are individuals who believed in a fast windfall but found otherwise.
He expressed regret that Poland bears the largest burden in EU support for Ukraine, and yet the EU does not provide financial backing to Poland. Suski described the situation as a deliberate attempt to starve Poland as part of a broader famine strategy in the country.
The discussion continued with references to related topics about political plans and statements by other leaders, highlighting tensions over agricultural policy and Ukraine imports.
“50 Faces of Tusk”
Suski was also asked about plans to index additional social benefits. He indicated a lack of knowledge about the specifics. When pressed about a proposed amount tied to Donald Tusk, he launched a critique of the former prime minister and his campaign messaging, saying that Tusk often changes his stance and presents many different faces to voters. He suggested that the true intentions would become clear after the elections and recalled past controversies related to retirement age changes. He concluded that Poles should be wary of the current leadership and the direction of its policies.
The discussion touched on the idea that campaign promises and political actions sometimes diverge after elections, with claims that adjustments to welfare and retirement policies have occurred under different administrations.
Other viewpoints on the so called grandmother narrative and electoral strategies were noted, with commentators offering various takes on how such messages might appeal to the public during election campaigns.
Government measures regarding Ukrainian grain
Following a government meeting, the Prime Minister announced that a formal letter would be sent to the European Commission President, urging immediate action to limit the impact of Ukrainian grain on neighboring markets. The aim is to mobilize every available tool and regulation to protect local markets while addressing the broader situation of grain inflows.
The Prime Minister directed the Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister to craft rules that would enable liquidation of some Ukrainian grain held in Poland for sale in North Africa and the Middle East, along with measures to curb the flow of this grain into Poland itself.
The European Commission confirmed a 56 million euro aid package to support farmers in frontline EU member states affected by the influx of Ukrainian agri-food products. Poland accounts for 30 million euros of this package. In the agriculture round table, it was recalled that a 600 million PLN national subsidy program for grain sold at reduced prices had already been approved by the Commission, with additional aid from the EU crisis reserve expected to push total support beyond 1.12 billion PLN for grain producers when combined with national funds. These measures aim to stabilize the market and protect farmers as the situation evolves.
The ministry outlined proposals that include seeking permission from the European Commission to reinstate customs duties on Ukrainian grain, tightening border controls, and suspending transport pending test results. Nationally, 600 million PLN would go to wheat and maize producers, while about 520 million PLN from the crisis reserve would support other cereals and oilseeds. Additional subsidies for transport for farmers and grain merchants would be provided, scaling with distance from Baltic ports. The government will continue to liaise with Brussels to secure approval for these steps.
Source notes: wPolityce. Attribution: wPolityce