A spokesperson for the European Commission (EC) said that, as of Tuesday afternoon, Poland and four other eastern EU states have implemented restrictions on the import of Ukrainian grain and other produce.
Miriam Garcia Ferrer confirmed that the restrictions would be implemented without delay.
The decision by the European Commission was reached following an agreement between the governing bodies in Brussels, as well as Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary.
The decision to restrict the import of Ukrainian grain and other produce into Poland and four other eastern EU states was made due to a surplus of Ukrainian grain that had resulted in low prices on domestic markets, causing concerns among local farmers.
“The EC regulations regarding imports of agricultural produce from Ukraine meet the expectations connected with the easing of tensions on our domestic market,” Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told reporters in Vilnius later on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Morawiecki stated that the decision made by the European Commission was the outcome of “intensive negotiations” with both Ukraine and the EC.
The EU had initially opposed the ban, arguing that trade policy decisions should be made exclusively by the EU, but eventually reached an agreement with the affected member states.
According to the agreement between the five eastern EU states and the European Commission, the ban on Ukrainian grain and produce imports for their domestic markets will continue, but the produce will be allowed to transit through their territories if it is intended for other countries.
The European Union will offer EUR 100 million in support to the five eastern European countries that were impacted by the influx of Ukrainian grain into their markets.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed her confidence that the new agreement would maintain Ukraine’s capacity for exporting grain to feed the world while also preserving the livelihoods of farmers in the affected EU countries.