Hungary is the only country that has not withdrawn unilateral restrictions on agricultural imports from Ukraine

UkrAgroConsult

Hungary remains the only neighboring country of Ukraine that still maintains unilateral restrictions against Ukrainian agricultural imports. This was stated today in Brussels during a press briefing by Miriam Garcia Ferrer, a representative of the European Commission on trade and agriculture.

“There is still one country that has not lifted single measures against agricultural exports from Ukraine. This does not necessarily have to affect Ukrainian transit (of grain – ed.) and does not concern the entire EU. But we offered a package of aid on the condition that unilateral measures must be withdrawn. The country that has not done so is Hungary,” the European Commission spokeswoman said in response to questions from journalists.

She recalled that on April 28, the European Commission had agreed with the four neighbouring countries of Ukraine – Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia – on a package of measures, which was to be implemented after the mentioned countries had cancelled their unilateral actions against agricultural imports from Ukraine. This package also included direct assistance for affected farmers in five countries, including Romania.

“We presented these activities with different countries on May 3. At that time we discussed the 100 million euro aid package and the conditions of its placement. At this point, we are still waiting for certain unilateral measures that have been imposed to be eliminated before we can take the next step,” Ferrer added.

She noted that the money comes from the EU’s so-called agricultural reserve of 450 million euros a year.

“We have already used part of this amount for the first aid package (56 million euros – ed.), which we presented in March. Now we have offered another 100 million euros for the second package and also – smaller amounts for countries affected by other market situations and crises. So we still have more than half of this amount available to us and we are ready to use it if there is another crisis or situation that needs it,” said the European Commission’s representative.

Asked by reporters whether the European Commission had received a letter from several member states protesting against the allocation of aid from the agricultural reserve to countries that resort to blackmail around the transit of grain from Ukraine, the representative confirmed that the European Commission had received such an appeal.

“I can confirm that the European Commission received such a letter in May, which is this month. We will respond shortly. But I can’t foresee at this point in advance what such a response will be,” the European Commission spokeswoman said.

As reported, on May 2, the European Commission announced the introduction of “exceptional and temporary” precautionary measures against imports from Ukraine, limiting the entry of Ukrainian agricultural products in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The restrictions will apply to four agricultural products: wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds originating from Ukraine and will take effect until June 5, 2023.

Tags: Ukraine, Hungary, restrictions