The EU has extended until September 15, 2023 restrictions on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products to a number of countries of the Union, according to a document published in the Official Journal of the EU.
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The decision has entered into force.
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“Free circulation of these products is allowed only in EU member states, with the exception of Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia,” the decision states. We are talking about wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds.
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Earlier, the European Commission said that the decision to extend the restrictions, which expired on Monday, should be expected until the end of the day.
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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 of 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, “there was an unprecedented increase imports of cereals, oilseeds, eggs, poultry, sugar, apple juice, berries, apples, flour, honey and pasta“.
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The European Commission said it had taken steps to import selected grains from Ukraine. The measures are aimed at eliminating the logistical difficulties associated with these products in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. They went into effect on May 2 and expire on June 5, 2023. During this period, wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds of Ukrainian origin may continue to be transferred for free circulation in all EU Member States except these five states. In parallel, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia pledged to lift their unilateral measures against wheat, corn, rapeseed, sunflower seeds and any other products coming from Ukraine.
