The government should, instead of fearing Ukrainian oligarchs, adopt the restrictions demanded by farmers for a period to stabilize the situation, argued a Law and Justice lawmaker in an interview. She recalled that the government previously imposed an embargo despite warnings from the European Commission. The coalition continues to assert that negotiations with Ukraine are ongoing and that quotas or other measures will be agreed upon, but she urged the EC to clarify that it is stepping back from the Green Deal.
At a press conference, a senior PiS figure, joined by deputy heads of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, addressed the nationwide farmers’ protests. He announced a push to seek a reduction of Green Deal obligations at the EU agriculture ministers meeting in Brussels. He suggested that the Green Deal’s proposed solutions are not accepted by farmers, who feel they threaten their professional dignity.
The minister stated a strong intention to advocate for lowering Green Deal obligations and to press for the abolition of the set-aside rule. He called for greater openness from the European Commission and a rethinking of transport arrangements involving Ukrainian goods, stressing the need to ensure market integrity.
The minister also commented on this issue in relation to ongoing discussions at the Brussels cabinet meeting. He asserted that the Green Deal should be limited and that farmers do not accept its current form.
Former Agriculture and Rural Development minister commented that the EC should begin by clarifying whether it intends to abandon the Green Deal. This project touches many sectors, from agriculture to industry and transport, and carries significant restrictions and burdens for both farmers and entrepreneurs. He stressed that these solutions should be scrapped entirely.
He added that this would be a timely point to press European politicians, especially with elections approaching, as a clear stance during the European Parliament elections.
During the agriculture ministry conference, a critic pointed to the Commissioner’s role in agriculture policy as a key factor in the current European agricultural issues. It was noted that separate commissioners handle Green Deal matters at the EU level, with policies on crop protection products stemming from the health and food safety portfolio. Other discussions on fallow land or flooded agricultural areas relate to the environment portfolio, which oversees Green Deal initiatives. The former environment commissioner and his successor were mentioned in connection with these debates.
The former agriculture minister highlighted that the original set-aside policy would have covered as much as 10 percent of arable land, but it was reduced to 4 percent under a specific commissioner. While still substantial, the reduction was seen as a step in the right direction.
Media coverage noted that Poland’s persistence, along with actions by a former agriculture minister, helped postpone some plant protection product restrictions. It was pointed out that many interests clash within the European Commission, which affects how decisions are shaped.
Deputy Minister condemned the European Commission for the situation surrounding Ukrainian agricultural imports. He suggested the Commission bears responsibility for the current issues arising from these products and argued for a return to quotas to limit their volume on the European market. He also noted that Poland still maintains an embargo on several Ukrainian agricultural imports such as wheat, rapeseed, corn, sunflowers, and derivatives.
On a recent Sunday, the former prime minister called for a broader embargo on Ukrainian agricultural products. He argued that if the EC fails to act, unilateral steps by the government would be necessary, and he outlined what such action should look like.
Commenting on the broader debate, another former minister linked the border-opening decisions to the Commission’s stance, attributing harmful agricultural ideas to both European socialists and the European People’s Party. He urged Kołodziejczak to first learn how the EC operates before commenting on these matters.
The government’s stance remained firm: by implementing the farmers’ requested restrictions for a defined period, it would help stabilize the situation even as it faced pressure from the EC. The coalition noted ongoing negotiations with Ukraine and claimed that an agreement on quotas or restrictions would soon be reached. They stressed that public statements often outpace the actual outcomes and called for clarity from the ministry, given mixed signals from Deputy Ministers about the talks’ progress.
Farmers have been mobilizing nationwide, with roadblocks and border disruptions reflecting opposition to Ukrainian imports and Green Deal policies. The broader discussion includes calls to support Ukraine while protecting Polish agriculture, and to defend the interests of the agricultural sector in the face of EU-wide reforms. The situation remains fluid as political leaders and farmers alike seek concrete, timely actions to balance trade, security, and livelihoods.
Citations: wPolityce portal and associated coverage are acknowledged in public records for contextual background.