On Monday 24 February, several EU agriculture ministers discussed the effects of imports into Europe of agricultural products from Ukraine, and stressed the need for caution with regard to import duties on fertilisers from Russia and Belarus.
The EU agriculture ministers took stock of the situation facing the agricultural markets.
Ukraine. The current regulation, which expires on 5 June 2025, extends the suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian exports to the EU.
The European Commission is due to present a revision of the EU/Ukraine free trade agreement. As a last resort, it could renew the autonomous trade measures of the EU.
The ministers of four EU countries (Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania) have written a letter to the European Commission calling for measures to avoid any destabilisation of the European market in returning to a pre-war scenario.
Fertiliser. Several delegations stressed the need for caution regarding import duties on fertilisers from Russia and Belarus (duties proposed by the European Commission: see EUROPE 13581/6). France has reportedly asked for an impact study to be undertaken, while Italy believes that these sanctions could do more harm than good to the European fertiliser market. Around 15 EU countries are said to have noted the still high prices of fertilisers in the EU.
The European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, specified that the proposed increase in customs duties was gradual. He spoke of the efforts underway to diversify supply sources, to turn to other third country producers, and to boost European fertiliser production.
The wine-producing countries have asked the European Commission to put forward proposals to help this ailing sector. Around ten ministers spoke about the impact of animal diseases, and three of them were in favour of a vaccination strategy. Lastly, many ministers pointed out the negative impact of poor weather conditions on the agricultural sector. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)