All food products at the Ukrainian border will be checked, not just grain, Agriculture Minister Robert Telus assured Thursday in Szczecin. He added that ARMA will accept applications for farmers’ aid starting Friday. The Agriculture Minister also said he had received demands from farmers protesting in Szczecin.
Grain Agreement
On the first day of his nomination, the minister stated that he called the Ukrainian Minister of Agriculture during the night. He said he had met with him and that there were agreements in place, expressing hope that the Ukrainian side would not deviate and that an agreement, including grain, would be signed the following day.
– said Agriculture Minister Robert Telus during a meeting with farmers in Szczecin on Thursday.
He added that if the agreement is signed, starting tomorrow no more grain would be received that would be unloaded in Poland.
Food control
The minister stated that the issue goes beyond grain and includes other food products flowing from Ukraine into the Polish market.
We need to discuss these other products. I ordered inspections and I have spoken with the Ministry of Health, because their assistance is needed. All food products at the Ukrainian border, including poultry, yak, sugar, and flour, will be checked at the border.
Telus emphasized the point.
He noted that his Ukrainian counterpart drew attention to the risk of queues at the border.
For me, the safety and health of Poles is the top priority. There is no possibility for such products to flow into Poland without proper checks.
– stressed the Minister of Agriculture.
The head of the Ministry of Agriculture also assured that at the moment there is no technical grain at the border.
I guarantee there is no so-called technical grain at this point.
– he said.
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EU actions in the field of customs
When asked by a farmer what would happen to the agreement with Ukraine after June this year, Telus said that it had been agreed with its Ukrainian counterpart to be valid until July.
But the issue is not closed. At Telus’s request, negotiations will continue and a meeting will be held the next day with the agriculture ministers of frontline countries: Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. The aim is to apply a unified rate to the European Union.
– said the minister.
Applications for support to farmers
He also stated that the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture (ARMA) will start accepting applications for farmer support from Friday. The package amounts to PLN 600 million intended for grain purchases.
From tomorrow, ARMA will accept these applications, seeking aid from the PLN 600 million announced earlier by Deputy Prime Minister Henryk Kowalczyk.
– announced the Minister of Agriculture.
He argued that this is another step toward realization as soon as possible.
On Saturday, the State Agency for Strategic Reserves began buying consumer wheat exclusively from Polish producers. Bids will be accepted until April 14. On Tuesday, April 4, the parliamentary finance committee agreed to reallocate PLN 600 million from the earmarked reserve to ARMA.
The PLN 600 million was set aside for grain purchases as part of strategic reserves
– stated the president of ARSA Michał Kuczmierowski in the Sejm.
As previously announced by Deputy Prime Minister and former Agriculture Minister Henryk Kowalczyk, the funds would be used to purchase grains, including wheat and maize. This aligns with the agreements made with farmers during the roundtable talks.
Asked why he spoke of “hope” rather than “certainty” regarding the Ukraine agreement, Telus replied that the country holds a significant role in the arrangement.
He added that the relationship with his counterpart mirrors a trust-based system: there is trust, but until results are tangible, there won’t be full confidence that the agreement is ready. He emphasized the desire to see concrete outcomes, not just promises.
The minister reassured reporters that if the agreement with Ukraine does not work, appropriate measures will be taken. He mentioned a plan to apply to the European Union to review customs issues starting in June.
The social side submitted the demands
Telus said in Szczecin that working groups would be formed to sign an agreement within a week or so after meeting protesting farmers and receiving their demands.
The demands from the Szczecin demonstrators—twelve in total—were presented during the talks, and the protesting party conducted itself seriously, submitting postulates for consideration in the working groups.
– said Agriculture Minister Robert Telus after meeting with the West Pomeranian coordination team of agricultural unions and organizations.
He noted that some demands are not feasible and others are very difficult, but negotiations in working groups are planned to meet and sign an agreement within a week to a week and a half.
Beyond conclusions, proposals for government consideration have been prepared. Some measures require no cost and others involve new legislation on the part of the government, according to Edward Kosmal, vice-chairman of NSZZ Individual Farmers Solidarity.
The twelve postulates cover topics such as the anti-crisis shield for family farms, the management of treasury agricultural assets, the trade of agri-food products from Ukraine, including curbing the negative effects of uncontrolled imports of cereals, maize, and rapeseed; organizing domestic agricultural markets for cereals, maize, and rapeseed; implementing a total ban on grain imports from Ukraine, including transport through Polish ports, until internal market regulation is achieved; suspending the Green Deal and introducing a special agricultural fuel policy.
The visit to Szczecin came amid ongoing protests by farmers in the region, who have gathered since March 23 to demand immediate border closures for agricultural imports, relief with loan repayments, and the anti-crisis shield for agriculture.
Despite continued talks, farmers began driving tractors through Szczecin’s city center after meeting the minister.
wkt/PAP
Note: This article reflects statements and events as reported in local briefings and government releases regarding agricultural policy, border controls, and farmer demonstrations in Szczecin.