On Thursday 31 August, Janusz Wojciechowski, the European Commissioner for Agriculture, proposed extending the European restrictions on Ukrainian cereal imports until the end of 2023. He also clarified the details of his ideas on support aid for the transport of cereals to third countries.
In a speech to the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture, the Commissioner mentioned, among the possible options for resolving the problems arising from the influx of Ukrainian cereals into the neighbouring countries of the country attacked by Russia, blocking Ukrainian imports, “which is not acceptable”, reopening the markets, which would provoke a “new crisis” and speculation, or the best solution: helping the transit of cereals and extending until the end of 2023 the ban for five EU countries (Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria) importing cereals (wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seeds) from Ukraine.
At the beginning of June, the Commission authorised these five countries to extend their restrictive measures until 15 September. On 25 August, these countries close to Ukraine decided to call for an extension until the end of 2023 of the restrictions on Ukrainian cereal imports, which expire on 15 September (see EUROPE 13237/6).
Some MEPs called for the measures to be extended to other products. The Commissioner replied ‘no’ in the case of poultry and eggs. However, he was open to the idea of including raspberries on the list.
€600 million for transit. Mr Wojciechowski expressed hope that his proposal would soon be taken up by the Commission as a whole, namely to give subsidies to Ukraine to pay compensation to companies for the transit of cereals to European ports (Baltic countries, Germany, etc.) in order to transport products to third countries.
The cost of this aid is estimated at €30 per tonne, to export 20 million tonnes, i.e. a total of €600 million.
“This proposal on the table is the cheapest for us. Otherwise, Ukrainians will not find buyers”, warned the Commissioner. “I can’t think of a better solution”, he conceded.
Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, Italian) asked him to ensure that Ukrainian food reached its targets all over the world.
Carmen Avram (S&D, Romanian) believed that the restrictions on Ukrainian cereal imports should be extended. Daniel Buda (EPP, Romania) also considered it “essential” to extend the restrictions.
On the other hand, Martin Häusling (Greens/EFA, German) was “very disappointed” with the Commissioner’s answers. Ukraine needs help to become truly connected to international markets. “There’s still a fortnight to go, so be more specific”, he said.
Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR, Dutch) spoke of the problems also affecting poultry and eggs. “We should consider an instrument such as customs duties for imports, but not for products in transit”, he suggested.
There is no doubt that the subject will be raised at the informal meeting of European agriculture ministers, which is set to take place in Cordoba from 3 to 5 September. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)