MEP Malik Azmani (Renew Europe, Netherlands) spoke out against Vladimir Putin’s tactic of “using starvation as a weapon” on Wednesday, 8 June during a plenary debate on the outcome of the 30-31 May EU Summit, particularly with regard to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (see EUROPE 12962/2 and 12966/8). “Putin’s cynical blockage of Ukraine ports shows his total disregard for the global community”, he said.
“There are over 20 million tons of grain, wheat and corn stuck in Ukraine. This is disrupting global food security, driving up prices, and causing global famine”, said European Council President, Charles Michel. He recalled that the EU sanctions do not target Russian agricultural products. Echoing his recent participation in the UN Security Council (see EUROPE 12966/23), he addressed all countries affected by the food crisis: “Don’t be fooled by the Kremlin’s propaganda! Don’t be instrumentalised by Russia!”.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was “very grateful to the United Nations for its efforts” to unblock Ukrainian ports so that the country’s agricultural products could be exported. She assured that the Commission was working very hard to provide solutions.
Manfred Weber (EPP, Germany) and Jaak Madison (Identity and Democracy, Estonia) welcomed the Commission’s initiative on food security. Mr Weber asked Mr Michel to put the economic situation of farmers on the agenda of the European Council on 23-24 June. “Farmers should no longer be seen as bad guys polluting our environment, but as families that are working hard to deliver high quality food for all of us”, he said.
He also called for the rapid finalisation of the EU/Mercosur trade agreement (see EUROPE 12965/4). Mr Madison supported Mr Weber, stressing that “we need food security to be independent from Russia, from China, from the United States”.
In the same vein, Raffaele Fitto (ECR, Italy) pleaded for “a productive (agricultural) system capable of meeting our needs”. He regretted that “we are paying the price for past mistakes”, especially as “we risk food security being used and instrumentalised by Russia, a strategy that would lead to tensions in North Africa”.
Mr Azmani praised Egypt for refusing to buy Ukrainian wheat stolen by Russia. “I urge leaders to ban food speculation so that a handful of speculators cannot get rich on the poverty and hunger of the many”, said Martin Schirdewan (The Left, Germany), concerned about the explosion in food prices.
He also suggested reducing VAT on these products in the EU. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)