Polish media: European Commission to extend ban on agricultural imports from Ukraine, but not until the end of the year

The European Commission is likely to extend the ban on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine to five EU countries, but not until the end of the year, as Poland has demanded. This was reported by the Polish radio station RMF FM from EU sources.

“Everything indicates that the decision to extend the embargo will be made – although perhaps not by the end of the year, as the Polish government wants,” the report says.

As noted, there are strong arguments in favor of extending the measures, including data showing that Ukrainian imports are growing despite the ban.

However, the last word remains with the head of the European Commission. Ursula von der Leyen allegedly promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that she would not extend the ban. Now she will have to choose between fulfilling this promise and the interests of EU farmers.

The radio station has learned that the decision is likely to be made this afternoon. No one benefits from delaying the issue until midnight, when the ban formally expires.

The decision will be made collectively, in the so-called written form. This means that when there is an official request from the head of the office of the Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, each of the commissioners’ offices will theoretically be able to comment. Only after that will the green light be given by the President of the European Commission. After that, a press release is published.

The European Union imposed a ban on imports of wheat, corn, sunflower seeds, and rapeseed to five of Ukraine’s neighboring countries on May 2. On June 5, it was extended. Today, the embargo expires.

On Tuesday, the Polish government adopted a resolution declaring its intention to extend the ban at the national level if it is not extended at the EU level.

Tags: Ukraine, EU, restrictions