Bulgaria, following Hungary and Poland, is considering introducing a temporary ban on the import of Ukrainian grain, said Agriculture Minister Yavor Gechev.
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On Saturday, Poland and Hungary, against the backdrop of protests from local farmers, announced the suspension of imports of Ukrainian agricultural products that enter the European market without duties.
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“It is necessary to protect Bulgarian interests, especially when two states react in this way. If we do not react in the same way, then the number on the territory of Bulgaria may become even greater,” Gechev said, quoted by the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA).
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On Monday, the Minister of Agriculture is waiting for reports on the legal component of the bans imposed by other countries. According to the agency, on Tuesday Gechev expects to discuss the situation with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev.
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At the end of March, the prime ministers of a number of EU countries turned to the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, with a request to intervene in the crisis caused by the influx of grain from Ukraine. The letter from the Prime Ministers of Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia noted that “the problems are associated with a significant increase in the supply of Ukrainian products to the markets of EU member states, especially those bordering Ukraine or located next to it“, in particular, “an unprecedented growth imports of cereals, oilseeds, eggs, poultry, sugar, apple juice, berries, apples, flour, honey and pasta“.
