After Russia’s invasion blocked some Black Sea ports, large quantities of Ukrainian grain, which is cheaper than that produced in the European Union, remained in central European states due to logistical obstacles, hitting prices and sales for local farmers.
The issue created a political problem for Poland’s ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party in an election year, angering people in rural areas where support for PiS is usually high.
“We are aware of the announcement by Poland and Hungary regarding the ban on imports of grain and other agricultural products from Ukraine,” a European Commission spokesman said in an emailed statement.
“In this context, it is important to emphasize that trade policy falls under the exclusive competence of the EU, and therefore unilateral actions are not acceptable.”
“In such challenging times, it is essential to coordinate and harmonize all decisions within the EU,” the statement added.
Polish government spokesman Piotr Muller told state news agency PAP that the government is in constant contact with the European Commission on the matter and that the ban is possible due to a safeguard clause.
Poland and Hungary have been embroiled in long-running conflicts with Brussels over issues such as judicial independence, media freedom and LGBT rights, and both have had their funds withheld over concerns about the rule of law.
Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky spoke with his Hungarian counterpart Istvan Nagy on Sunday and stressed that unilateral decisions are unacceptable, Ukraine’s Agriculture Ministry said in a statement. The two agreed to talk again soon, he said.
Hungary ban Ukrainian grain
The ministry said on Saturday that the Polish ban was in breach of existing bilateral export agreements and called for negotiations to resolve the issue.
The Polish ban, which came into force on Saturday evening, will also apply to the transit of these products through the country, the Minister of Development and Technology said on Sunday.
“The ban is full, including the ban on transit through Poland,” Waldemar Buda tweeted, adding that talks would be held with Ukraine to create a system to ensure that goods only pass through Poland and do not end up on the local market.
The state-run Ukrinform news agency said Ukrainian and Polish ministers are due to meet in Poland on Monday and the focus of talks will be on transit measures.
Polish Agriculture Minister Robert Telus said on Sunday that the ban was necessary to “open the EU’s eyes to the fact that further decisions are needed to allow products from Ukraine to go deep into Europe and not stay in Poland.”
The ban is expected to last until June 30, the finance ministry said. Ukraine normally exports most of its agricultural goods, especially grain, through its Black Sea ports, which were unblocked in July under an agreement between Ukraine, Turkey, Russia and the United Nations.
The deal is scheduled to expire on May 18, and Moscow indicated last week that it could not be extended unless the West removes barriers to Russian grain and fertilizer exports.
Around 3 million tons of grain left Ukraine every month through the Black Sea grain corridor, while only 200,000 tons moved to European ports through Polish territory, according to the Ukrainian ministry.
Solsky said at the weekend that between 500,000 and 700,000 tons of various agricultural products cross Poland’s borders every month, including grain, vegetable oil, sugar, eggs, meat and other products.
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