On Thursday 22 May, MEPs adopted the report by Inese Vaidere (EPP, Latvian) on increasing tariffs for Russian and Belarusian agricultural products and certain fertilisers (see EUROPE 13641/3). Despite initial misgivings about the text in several EU countries, the rapporteur managed to convince a majority of MEPs (411 votes in favour, 11 against and 78 abstentions).
“I would particularly like to thank the members who were able to put their own interests aside to agree on a common goal. We must stop funding Russia’s war in Ukraine”, said Ms Vaidere before the vote.
The regulation will impose an additional tariff of 50% on all imports of Russian and Belarusian agricultural products, as well as an additional tariff of 6.5% on nitrogen-based fertilisers from the same two countries, plus a duty of €40 to €45 per tonne of fertiliser, which will be phased in until 2028.
The Council of the EU also aligned itself with the Commission’s proposal, back in March (see EUROPE 13600/6). It plans to adopt the regulation on 12 June at the EU ‘Justice and Home Affairs’ Council. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)