MEPs request details about new measures that the Commission has adopted to alleviate the pressure on farmers in states bordering Ukraine. These states have been facing pressure on grain prices due to imports through Solidarity Lanes open for Ukrainian agricultural products. Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia banned the entry of Ukrainian grain and food products into their respective markets in April. Extracts from the debate.

EU - Ukraine (T)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

troubles in Ukraine (T)

LINS, Norbert (EPP, DE)

CIOLOŞ, Dacian (Renew, RO)

WOJCIECHOWSKI, Janusz (ECR, PL, EC)

GREGOROVÁ, Markéta (Greens/EFA, CZ)

ROSWALL, Jessika (SE)

solidarity with Ukraine (T)

consequences of the war in Ukraine (T)

Ukrainian cereals on the European market: extracts from the debate

Title: Ukrainian cereals on the European market: extracts from the debate (EbS) 

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Minister for EU Affairs, It is crucial that we continue to show solidarity first and foremost with Ukraine and its people who suffer horribly, but also with other others who address this proper proportionality affected. We must ensure that our support is sustainable, long term and reliable. We must also work to ensure a seamless extension on the autonomous trade measures vis a vis Ukraine. The continued suspension of tariffs demonstrates the strong EU support for Ukraine. Also when it comes to trade, the Commission has the support of the Swedish Presidency in finding broad agreements, especially with regard to Ukraine. We welcome more opportunities to enhance exports from Ukraine through the EU.

SOUNDBITE (English), Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI, European Commissioner for Agriculture, the Commission took temporary preventive measures pursuant to the Safeguard clause included in the Autonomous Trade Measures Regulation to address the exceptional challenges caused by logistical bottlenecks in the five Member States. This preventive measures covered the four most sensitive products wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seeds. The transit of these products within the European Union and to the third countries will continue to be ensured, and these products will reach and circulate freely in all European Union Member States except Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

SOUNDBITE (English), Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI, European Commissioner for Agriculture,Second, where necessary, the Commission is ready to launch for other sensitive products an assessment of the situation on the Union market, pursuant to the expedited safeguard mechanism under the new ETM regulation upon its entry into force.Third, the Commission is putting forward and additional exceptional support measure of &euro;100 million for affected farmers in the five Member states Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Those Member States will have the possibility to top up this amount with a 200% national cofinancing rate.

SOUNDBITE (English), Norbert LINS (EPP, DE), We need to strengthen the solidarity lanes. We need to provide for logistic support. We need to make sure that Ukrainian cereals, especially wheat, need to be need to be bought. The Commission needs to create a task force so that it can deal with this particular problem, so that we can react rapidly and symbolically, clearly start humanitarian cereal export.

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Dacian CIOLOS (Renew, RO), We need to keep the solidarity lanes after the 5th of June in order to be able to avoid Russia's blackmail. But we need to make sure that the grains reach the third countries that need them and that the producers in the countries on the border with Ukraine are protected at the same time. So we need swift action, even more so because this is a topic that is used, as we see by the extremist parties that actually sing on the tune of Russia.

SOUNDBITE (English), Marketa GREGOROVA (Greens/EFA, CZ), The trade policy solely European competence and should not be interfered with by individual members, notably when the unilateral actions are based on simple political gains undermining our European solidarity.

SOUNDBITE (English), Marketa GREGOROVA (Greens/EFA, CZ), I would appreciate more transparency on the deal's content. Could the Commission share its plans or how they are planning to resolve this issue structurally instead of just providing a temporary solution? Notably, if we will have to renew the trade measures in a year again.