MEPs from the AGRI (Agriculture and Rural Development) Commitee discuss with Markian DMYTRASEVYCH, Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, on the critical situation of the Ukraininian agricultural sector suffering from problems such as landmines infestation and problems with exports. Extracts from the exchange of views and statement by Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), AGRI Committee Chair and extracts. The transcription is the result of an automatic process. Please, check against delivery.

EU - Ukraine (T)

Brussels

exchange of views

statement

FOOD SAFETY (T2)

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

LINS, Norbert (EPP, DE)

food security (T)

solidarity with Ukraine (T)

Ukraine's application for EU membership (T)

consequences of the war in Ukraine (T)

DMYTRASEVYCH, Markian

Exchange of views with Markian DMYTRASEVYCH, Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine: statement by Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), AGRI Committee Chair and extracts

Arrival of Markian DMYTRASEVYCH, Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine (1 shot)

Arrival of Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), AGRI Chair

SOUNDBITE (German), Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), AGRI Chair (1 shot)

SOUNDBITE(English), MarkianDMYTRASEVYCH, Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, The coming agriculture season presents new challenges such as minefields, problems with exports and logistics, rising prices, lack of liquidity for farmers, financial liquidity and their inability to pay back loans, as far as a lot of lost and damaged farming machinery. However, despite everything we have started this foreign campaign. Farmers do not stop working, even though 90% of them are now operating was negative profit. They are even trying to clear the fields of mines on their own, share the remaining equipment, seeds and fertilisers with each other. We understand that about 7 million hectares will not be cultivated this year in Ukraine, as this is a huge territory even for the world's largest countries.

SOUNDBITE (English), Markian DMYTRASEVYCH, Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, The price of grain has become more competitive, more job opportunities were created and the number of taxes paid was increased. For example, the agriculture sector of Poland broke records in 2022. Poland exported agricultural products worth 223 billions Zloty, this is about &euro;47.6 billion. This is more than all Ukrainian exports in 2022. Exports amounted to &euro;945 million euros, which is 16% more than in 2021.

SOUNDBITE (English), Markian DMYTRASEVYCH, Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, More than 50% of products exported from Poland to Hungary, more than 80% exported to Slovakia and more than 90% exported to Romania, where moving through mentioned countries as a transit. I want to emphasise that the fall in prices in the last two months is caused not only by the large number of exports of Ukrainian products.

SOUNDBITE (English), Markian DMYTRASEVYCH, Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, We believe that negotiations with our neighbours, our friends who provide us with incredible support are the main way for compromise solutions. Discussions between friends is a normal process, and we are confident that we will able to reach solution that will be acceptable to both sides of the negotiations process.

SOUNDBITE (English), Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), AGRI Chair, The first moment I fully understand these European countries that they had to take action, but I don't think that this is the right solution to do it, unilateral. We have to do it on the European level and we have to continue with our support towards Ukraine.

SOUNDBITE (English), Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), AGRI Chair, When it comes to the Solidarity Lanes, I think this was successfully established by the European Union. But now, we have to go the next step. We have not only to talk about how can Ukraine enter the European borders. We have to talk about the destinations, how we can guarantee the transit from Ukraine through the European Union to the destinations in the Far East and in Africa.

SOUNDBITE (English), Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), AGRI Chair, Buying from Ukraine on the European level, it is still a solution which is on the table, and I'm sure this will be discussed this afternoon with the Ukrainian agriculture Minister and the representatives of the Commission.

SOUNDBITE (English), Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), AGRI Chair, First of all, I think that we are on the way that there is a solution. We are talking about some compensation for the farmers in the affected countries. But on the other hand, there has to be an agreement by this country to finish or to end the blockade situation.