The European Commission initially demanded that Poland, Hungary and Slovakia lift sanctions on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products, but Brussels is now working to “coordinate legal actions” against Kiev’s complaint.
Brussels announced that it is considering the possibility of protecting Hungary, Poland and Slovakia at the WTO in connection with Ukraine’s claims regarding the ban on Ukrainian grain imports. Financial Times newspaper writes that the European Commission informed Budapest, Warsaw and Bratislava about this issue.
The publication includes excerpts from Brussels’ written statement to these three countries: “In accordance with EU law, the European Commission will participate in these WTO proceedings initiated against member states.”
As the FT recalls, the European Commission initially demanded that Poland, Hungary and Slovakia lift the ban on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine at the national level, even to the point of imposing sanctions on these countries. However, Brussels is currently working on “coordinating legal proceedings” regarding possible objections to Kiev’s complaint to the WTO.
The message from the EU executive body clarified that “the EC’s next step will be its response to Ukraine’s requests for consultation on behalf of the three countries.”
Grain crisis – what is known
Let us recall that on September 15, the European Commission refused to extend the embargo on imports of Ukrainian grain into the EU. However, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland extended the ban on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine. In response, Kiev filed a lawsuit with the WTO against these three countries. According to Ukrainian Minister of Economy Yulia Sviridenko, unilateral actions of EU member states in the field of trade are unacceptable.
Slovakia, Hungary and Poland decided to stop participating in the work of the European Commission coordination platform on Ukrainian grain supply issues. Representatives from the EC, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine participated in the platform’s work.
Already today, on September 21, the countries that have imposed an embargo on agricultural products from Ukraine are signaling their readiness to consider the plan for joint verification and coordination of supplies developed by Kiev. Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine Taras Kachka said this at the “United News” telethon.
19 July Focus He wrote that the transit of Ukrainian grain through European countries is one of the options for responding to the withdrawal of the Russian Federation from the “grain agreement”.
Focus also, according to Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Warsaw will continue to support Ukraine against the military aggression of the Russian Federation, despite disputes over Ukrainian grain.
Source: Focus
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