EU pledges more cash in Ukraine grain standoff, Bulgaria bans imports
Published: 05:04 PM,Apr 19,2023 | EDITED : 09:04 PM,Apr 19,2023
SOFIA: Brussels on Wednesday offered an extra 100 million euros of support for EU farmers to ease a standoff over Ukrainian grain after Bulgaria became the latest country to approve a temporary ban on food products from the war-hit nation.
In recent days, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia banned the import of grain and other food items from Ukraine after a slump in prices triggered protests from local farmers.
As Brussels scrambles to find a solution to appease the deadlock, the European Commission on Wednesday proposed an extra 100 million euros of support for farmers.
That money would come on top of a 56-million-euro package that was provided for farmers in Poland, Romania and Bulgaria last month.
The latest measures would be aimed at ensuring grain could enter Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria only for export.
Bulgarian farming minister Yavor Gechev earlier on Wednesday said that the government had 'passed a decision that temporarily bans... a range of products originating from Ukraine'.
Sofia said it was 'forced to adopt... today's extreme measure' after unilateral bans by other countries were announced, 'seriously' increasing the risk for Bulgaria due to the potential diversion of goods.
The ban will enter into force from April 24 and last until the end of June, but will not apply to the transit of goods through Bulgarian territory.
Bulgaria hopes for a common EU decision in the coming weeks.
Its neighbour Romania also announced on Wednesday that it would take additional measures regarding Ukrainian grain imports, including sealing and monitoring the vehicles that transit through the country.
Bucharest has 'asked the Ukrainian side to rapidly find solutions for restricting the export of grain and oil seeds to Romania, in order to protect farmers who are facing difficulties,' a government statement said.
The Romanian and Ukrainian agricultural ministers are due to meet in Bucharest on Friday to further discuss the matter.
In May 2022, the European Union allowed Kyiv to export its grain stocks through the bloc after the closure of the Black Sea shipping lanes following Russia's war sparked a global food crisis.
Member states agreed to import certain products from Ukraine without quantitative restrictions, and without customs inspections.
Carriers who break the rules may be fined up to the full value of the shipment. — AFP
In recent days, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia banned the import of grain and other food items from Ukraine after a slump in prices triggered protests from local farmers.
As Brussels scrambles to find a solution to appease the deadlock, the European Commission on Wednesday proposed an extra 100 million euros of support for farmers.
That money would come on top of a 56-million-euro package that was provided for farmers in Poland, Romania and Bulgaria last month.
The latest measures would be aimed at ensuring grain could enter Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria only for export.
Bulgarian farming minister Yavor Gechev earlier on Wednesday said that the government had 'passed a decision that temporarily bans... a range of products originating from Ukraine'.
Sofia said it was 'forced to adopt... today's extreme measure' after unilateral bans by other countries were announced, 'seriously' increasing the risk for Bulgaria due to the potential diversion of goods.
The ban will enter into force from April 24 and last until the end of June, but will not apply to the transit of goods through Bulgarian territory.
Bulgaria hopes for a common EU decision in the coming weeks.
Its neighbour Romania also announced on Wednesday that it would take additional measures regarding Ukrainian grain imports, including sealing and monitoring the vehicles that transit through the country.
Bucharest has 'asked the Ukrainian side to rapidly find solutions for restricting the export of grain and oil seeds to Romania, in order to protect farmers who are facing difficulties,' a government statement said.
The Romanian and Ukrainian agricultural ministers are due to meet in Bucharest on Friday to further discuss the matter.
In May 2022, the European Union allowed Kyiv to export its grain stocks through the bloc after the closure of the Black Sea shipping lanes following Russia's war sparked a global food crisis.
Member states agreed to import certain products from Ukraine without quantitative restrictions, and without customs inspections.
Carriers who break the rules may be fined up to the full value of the shipment. — AFP