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Last Wednesday, European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis and Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski met with representatives of the five Member States bordering Ukraine affected by the increase in Ukrainian agricultural imports (Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Romania), as well as representatives of Ukraine.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 led to changes in logistical routes for grain and oilseed exports from Ukraine and the establishment of "EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes." The changes in logistic routes led to higher transport costs for Ukrainian cereals and oilseeds to reach their traditional markets, resulting in a redirection of exports to the EU market. This increase in imports affected local farmers in the member states where the main Solidarity Lanes were established. In certain regions of the EU, additional imports have led to oversupply, a reduction in local prices, or saturation of logistics chains.
During the meeting, the EU's comprehensive proposals were introduced to address the concerns expressed by these five Member States regarding the worsening situation for Union producers regarding specific products. This proposed Commission package includes a second tranche of agricultural financial support to affected farmers, exceptional safeguard measures on key products, and measures to facilitate the transit of Ukrainian grain exports via the Solidarity Lanes. The Commission's proposed package is subject to Member States lifting their unilateral measures.
The Commission underlined the importance of rapidly following a common EU approach, rather than unilateral solutions to avoid multiple bans and solutions which put the internal market at risk.
The Commission took note of the views presented by participants. Political consultations will continue in the coming days in view of a swift solution.
April 19, 2023/ European Commission/ European Union.
https://ec.europa.eu/
