The EU agriculture ministers discussed, on Tuesday 23 January in Brussels, the impact of Ukrainian agricultural imports on agricultural markets, as the European Commission puts the finishing touches to its proposal to extend trade liberalisation with Ukraine for another year.
At the EU ‘Agriculture’ Council, several EU Member States close to Ukraine recommended measures to limit imports of certain Ukrainian agricultural products deemed sensitive, such as poultry, sugar and eggs. The idea of quotas for these sensitive products has reportedly been supported by several EU agriculture ministers.
Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commissioner for Trade, has indicated that the proposal will include “safeguard measures specific to certain countries”, making it possible to ban imports of Ukrainian agricultural products when their markets are saturated (see EUROPE 13333/6). The Commission is considering introducing maximum import thresholds for certain products (poultry meat, eggs and sugar), beyond which they would have to be redirected out of the EU.
Janusz Wojciechowski, the European Commissioner for Agriculture, reportedly told the ministers that he fully understood the concerns expressed by Poland in particular. He is said to have noted that the situation regarding grains had improved, while the problems observed on the markets concerned more poultry, sugar and eggs. The Commissioner reportedly stressed the need to limit imports of these sensitive products and to react quickly to crisis situations.
Mr Wojciechowski was quoted as saying that the EU should do everything in its power to guarantee exports of Ukrainian agricultural products, particularly to Asian and African markets.
On trade agreements with third countries, the Commissioner announced that the Commission would publish on 29 January the third update of the cumulative economic impact of trade agreements on EU agriculture, requested by several Member States in October 2022. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)