Five EU countries sign a joint statement extending the ban on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine until the end of the year

Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania have signed a joint statement extending the ban on imports of 4 grain crops from Ukraine until the end of the year. This was stated by Polish Minister of Agriculture Robert Telus, rmf24 reports.

“At the meeting, we prepared and signed a common position – of five countries – on, first of all, the extension of the ban on the import of four grains to our countries after September 15. But the agreement also includes our joint declaration that we are very open to transit,” said Agriculture Minister Robert Telus during a press conference after the meeting of the agriculture ministers of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.

In his turn, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that “Poland will not open the border with Ukraine for grain products on September 15.”

He added that the ministers of Ukraine and Moldova were also invited to the meeting, but they did not come for objective reasons.

“In less than two months, according to the European Commission’s decision, we have to reopen the border (with Ukraine for grain products – ed.) on September 15. I want to make it clear, here from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Poland, that we will not open this border. Either the European Commission will agree to develop rules that will extend this ban, or we will do it ourselves,” Morawiecki said.

In June, the European Commission eased restrictions on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products to five European countries and promised to gradually lift them.

Tags: Hungary, restrictions, Ukraine, Bulgaria, grain, Romania, Poland