The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, caused a stir on Thursday 22 February when he wrote to Norbert Lins (EPP, German), Chairman of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, that the EU should put an end to Ukrainian imports of agricultural products and draw a line under the ‘European Green Deal’.
The Commissioner explained on Friday 23 February (https://aeur.eu/f/az3 ) that the sentence in question was “a summary of the demands” of the angry farmers. “It is not a statement of my position”, said the Commissioner.
As far as imports are concerned, he wants farmers to be “protected” against the significant impacts of the liberalisation of trade with Ukraine and against any unfair competition under trade agreements (see other news).
Mr Wojciechowski spoke of the threat that many farmers have felt from certain initiatives in the ‘European Green Deal’. “I have also repeatedly underlined the centrality of sustainability to agriculture and the importance of supporting our farmers, in particular through strong incentives and practical solutions”.
He acknowledged that the wording of this sentence may have led to misinterpretation.
Janusz Wojciechowski will be in Paris on Sunday 25 February to visit the Salon international de l'agriculture. He will meet French Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau before Monday’s Agriculture Council (see EUROPE 13356/4).
Polish farmers. In addition, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Warsaw on Friday that the EU was already supporting Polish farmers to the tune of €22 billion under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
“And there’s more to come. For example, the first payment under Next Generation EU includes €1.4 billion. These funds are immediately available to Polish farmers, to help them develop and modernise their production and penetrate new markets”, she said.
Ukrainian grain was spilled on the railway line in Poland. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)