Strikes, blockades: EU’s east blackmails Commission into extending Ukraine import ban

EU frontline countries bordering Ukraine have threatened drastic measures in the event that the European Commission does not renew its temporary import ban on Ukrainian agricultural goods, including “indefinite” strikes and port blockades as the renewal deadline looms. 

The current temporary ban on select Ukrainian agricultural goods – wheat, maize, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds – was put in place to appease frontline countries who unilaterally imposed their own trade restrictions back in April after an influx of Ukrainian agricultural products put farmers under pressure.

After a first prolongation in June, the ban is set to expire on Friday (15 September), but its further renewal has proved a bone of contention for the Commission, which is caught between demonstrating solidarity for Ukraine on the one hand and supporting the EU frontline countries – Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia – on the other.

Now frontline countries have kicked their campaign up a gear just ahead of a crucial meeting of the joint coordination platform on Ukrainian grain — comprising representatives of the five EU countries, Ukraine and the Commission — who will meet to discuss the issue on Wednesday afternoon.

Drastic actions

On Tuesday, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced on social media that the country will unilaterally block Ukrainian grain imports regardless of Brussels’ decision, echoing comments made by the country’s agriculture minister, Robert Telus, back in July. 

Such a move would likely be in direct violation of EU law, given that trade is an EU competence.

Despite this, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia look set to follow suit, according to Hungary’s agriculture minister István Nagy. 

As reported by Reuters, Nagy said in a video message on Facebook on Wednesday (13 September) that the country has “agreed with my Romanian, Slovak and Bulgarian colleagues that if there is no decision on the extension of the existing moratorium by Brussels, then we will take national measures individually”.

He added that the country would go one step further and extend the ban to a wider range of Ukrainian agricultural products. 

Meanwhile, farmers in Romania warned in a letter on Tuesday addressed to the Commission that, if these measures are not taken, the “majority” of farmers and agricultural cooperatives are preparing to engage in a “massive general strike”.

The farming community will also “block the Port and all border crossings” in the country for an “indefinite period” until an extended list of issues, to be presented at that time, is addressed, the letter stipulates. 

This also includes the granting of exemptions to environmental measures in the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) (see below for more details).

“We urge them to take any necessary actions to prevent a continued and serious crisis for Romanian farmers and cooperatives,” the letter reads. 

Poland will introduce own ban on Ukrainian grain if EU does not, says minister

Poland is prepared to introduce its own unilateral ban on agricultural products imported from Ukraine if the EU decides against extending the protective measures already in place, the Polish agricultural minister told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview. 

Commission still mulling its move

However, the Commission has not yet taken a stance on the issue, according to a Commission spokesperson.

Responding to a question on the matter during the EU executive’s daily press conference, the spokesperson confirmed that although there has been an exchange on the matter within the College of Commissioners,  “no decision has been taken yet”.

“We are discussing the best solution to make sure that we can find something that is acceptable for everyone,” she said, adding reassurances that the Commission is “confident that all the measures we have undertaken and all our discussions in the coordination platform a leading to concrete results”. 

Meanwhile, addressing the European Parliament during the plenary session on Tuesday, the EU agriculture Commissioner reiterated his desire to see the ban extended, stressing the need for financial support to compensate for the additional cost of transit.

“It is against this background that we will decide on the appropriate measures to further ensure the transit of Ukrainian grains from the neighbouring member states while avoiding logistical bottlenecks,” he said.

Commissioner: EU ‘ready to export’ all Ukraine’s grain after Black Sea route closed

The EU’s ‘solidarity lanes’ initiative to help Ukraine export grain via European routes and ports could entirely replace the Black Sea route become impractical after Russia’s unilateral withdrawal from a UN-brokered deal, according to the bloc’s agriculture chief.

[Edited by Gerardo Fortuna/Nathalie Weatherald]

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