The European Commission appealed on Sunday for Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia to take a constructive stance after the three countries announced they would unilaterally continue their ban on imports of grains from Ukraine, despite the Commission's decision to lift that ban. A spokesperson for the Commission stated, "We are aware of what some member states have announced regarding unilateral actions. What is important now is for all countries to work in a spirit of cooperation and to engage constructively."
Ukraine was one of the largest grain exporters in the world before the Russian invasion in 2022 reduced its ability to ship agricultural products to global markets via its Black Sea ports. Since then, Ukrainian farmers have relied on exporting their grain products through neighboring countries. However, the export of grains and oilseeds to neighboring countries has affected local farmers' incomes and led some governments to impose bans on agricultural imports from Ukraine.
The European Union intervened in May to prevent countries from acting unilaterally and imposed a ban on Ukrainian exports to neighboring countries. Under the ban imposed by the EU, Ukraine was allowed to export through those countries on the condition that products were sold in other nations. The European Union decided to lift this ban on Friday after Ukraine pledged to take measures to tighten controls on exports to neighboring countries.
This issue is particularly significant for Poland, which is preparing to hold general elections in October. Farmers represent a large voting base for the ruling Law and Justice party. Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary announced on Friday that they would continue to impose restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports despite the Commission's decision. The Commission's spokesperson remarked, "Our focus now is on implementing the new system that has just been announced and making it a success," adding that a meeting with representatives from all concerned EU member states scheduled for Monday would provide an opportunity to further discuss this matter.
