The prime ministers of several EU countries asked the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to intervene in the crisis caused by the influx of grain from Ukraine.
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The appeal was made by representatives of Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia. Their letter reports problems associated “with a significant increase in the supply of Ukrainian products to the markets of EU member countries, especially those bordering Ukraine or located near it.” Prime ministers announced unprecedented growth in imports of cereals, oilseeds, eggs, poultry, sugar, apple juice, berries, apples, flour, honey and pasta.
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“Given the magnitude of the above phenomena, it is necessary to significantly increase the amount of financial resources allocated by the European Union for support. Additional funds are needed, because there are not enough funds from national budgets,” the letter says.
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According to the prime ministers, additional funding can help achieve the original goal of the “belt of solidarity”, that is, the export of Ukrainian surplus agricultural products to countries in Africa and the Middle East.
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“We call on the commission to analyze the possibility of purchasing surplus grain from neighboring Member States for humanitarian purposes,” the politicians stressed.
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In addition, the prime ministers want the EC to propose a joint EU decision “which, in cooperation with the World Food Programme, will ensure the purchase of Ukrainian grain so that it does not get into the EU member states.”
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Earlier, a number of Polish organizations uniting farmers, in particular Agrounia, protested that grain intended for export is imported into their country from Ukraine, but then it settles in the republic. They also pointed out the poor quality of the goods. According to official data from the Polish side, about two million tons of grain were imported into the republic from Ukraine over the past year.
