Ukraine’s foreign minister on Monday criticized neighboring countries, particularly Romania, for plans to extend restrictions on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products, while Kyiv threatened to “fiercely defend” its rights, AFP reports.

Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria (which is not Ukraine’s immediate neighbor) said last week they wanted the EU to extend the ban, which expires on September 15, until the end of the year to protect their own farmers.

The five states have threatened to take action at the national level if the EU does not extend restrictions that the European Commission has allowed to block the sale of wheat, Ukrainian corn, rapeseed and sunflower on their territory.

“We are categorically against it, as this measure will violate the rules of the common market,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, during a visit to Prague.

“This rule will violate the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, but, above all, it will contradict the principle of solidarity on which the European Union is based,” he added.

Kuleba said that his country is ready to work with the five EU members to find a solution to the problem.

“If they behave like this, we will have no choice but to fiercely defend our rights and the rights of Ukrainian farmers,” Kuleba added.

We will remind, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Florin Barbu, said that Romania appealed to the European Commission with a request to extend restrictions on the import of grain from Ukraine until the end of this year, to introduce two new products (oil and honey) into the list. ), as well as provide support to Romanian farmers in the amount of 30 EUR/t for grain exports from Romania.

“Brussels will have no reason not to extend the ban”

“We signed an agreement in Warsaw, by which all five states affected by the war ask to continue importing grain from Ukraine until the end of the year, and this is already being considered by the European Council.

During this period, Brussels is on vacation, but I am convinced that from August 28 they will meet again and these urgent problems for farmers will be put on the back burner.

Next week I will again hold a video conference with my colleagues from the five countries to discuss the two topics we had in the Council of Ministers, namely the departure from not leaving 4% of land under steam in Romania and the extension of the ban. on the import of grain from Ukraine,” he said.

In his opinion, the European Commission will have no reason not to extend the ban on the import of wheat, corn, rape and sunflower seeds from Ukraine after September 15, especially since the Ukrainian Minister of Agriculture confirmed that Romania is not a market for Ukrainians. grain

“The Minister of Agriculture of Ukraine said in a video conference that we had that Romania is not a market for Ukrainian grain, it is not intended for the Romanian market, and then I do not know what can prevent the extension of the ban from September. 15 by the end of the year. I think everything is very clear and there will be no arguments in the EC, which I also told the EC, but I also informed the European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski,” said Barbu.

For the export of Romanian cereals, a subsidy of 30 euros/t is requested

The minister said that he also asked the Commission to provide support to Romanian farmers in the amount of 30 euros per ton for the export of cereals from Romania.

“We know that the port of Constanţa has been quite congested and transport costs for Romanian farmers have increased significantly. Therefore, I asked the Commissioner to provide support of 30 euros per ton of grain for the export of grain from Romania, taking into account the increase in transport prices for Romanian farmers.

We see on the exchange that the price of a ton of grain is 200 euros, and almost 50-60 euros are transportation costs, the difference is very big compared to previous years. Thus, I will return to Radmin from September 17 or 18 with this request. I believe that we as a state have the right to provide Romanian farmers with this assistance, if almost 70% of grain transit from Ukraine went to the territory of Romania,” he explained.

Romania no longer wants honey and oil from Ukraine

Last but not least, the Minister of Agriculture emphasized that he is analyzing the addition of two new products to the list of prohibited products – honey and oil.

“I discussed with the Bulgarian Minister of Agriculture, and the addition of this list was analyzed in the working groups of the Commission, and for Romania we are talking about oil and honey, that is, two more products. Of course, Romania has a certain degree of self-sufficiency in terms of honey and oil, and I believe that those products that come from Ukraine should be destined for countries that do not have such a level of self-sufficiency.

It is extremely important to expand this list of products in such a way that Romanian farmers and producers are not affected,” said Barbu.

If the EU does not approve the requests, bans can be imposed unilaterally

Asked whether he would take a similar decision regarding Poland, which recently announced that it would maintain a ban on grain imports from Ukraine if the EU did not extend it beyond September 15, the Agriculture Minister believes that Romania should not be aggressive, and the Commission through dialogue and dispute he will understand that every farmer faces difficulties.

“I know Poland’s point of view, but we have to be responsible, and I believe that through dialogue and with very clear arguments, the European Commission will understand that every farmer faces difficulties. I don’t think we need to be very aggressive, and I say this as a minister, we have an understanding in Brussels.

I am convinced that everything can be solved if we conduct a dialogue and present clear arguments. I repeat, I am not a supporter of power walking,” said the head of the APC.

Florin Barbu added that if the EU does not extend the ban, Romania will decide at the government level what measures can be taken to avoid serious market disruptions.

“It will be discussed. I will not decide as a minister, we will have a discussion at the Government level. I am sure that the Prime Minister will also have discussions at the council level, we are talking here at the level of responsibility, and I am convinced that together we will make the best decision for Romanian farmers,” said the Minister of Agriculture. and Rural Development, Florin Barbu.