The European Dairy Association (EDA) supports the extension of preferential treatment for Ukrainian dairy exports to the EU, according to the March issue of Dairy Flash.
“As EDA, we have made clear our support for the extension of the European Commission’s “zero quota, zero tariff” approach when it comes to Ukrainian dairy exports to the EU. It goes without saying that we expect compliance with the principle of reciprocity in the trade approach,” the EDA stressed.
The corresponding statement was made at the 6th Forum “Civil Society EU-Ukraine” that was held by the Trade Service of the European Commission with the participation of business organizations, environmental groups and non-governmental organizations of the EU and Ukraine.
EDA is a European platform of dairy processors, uniting cooperatives, private dairies, world dairy industry leaders, as well as small and medium-sized companies operating in the dairy sector. It has a major think tank. EDA committees and working groups work to ensure a sustainable dairy base in Europe, to unlock the potential of EU domestic markets, and to ensure growth in global dairy processing.
The total supply of chilled and frozen pig meat in March 2023 from the EU was almost 67% lower than last year, falling to 503 tonnes, the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders has reported.
In monetary terms, Ukraine imported $949,000 worth of pork in March, the data of the State Customs Service was cited by the industry association.
According to its analysts, this is the lowest monthly figure since 2018.
“During March, the average price of pork by slaughter weight in the EU was about $2.54/kg. The price of pork imported to Ukraine fell to $1.88/kg, which is 5.7% lower than in February this year,” the association said, explaining the decline in import activity by higher prices in EU countries compared to prices for domestic products.
“Even the absence of import duties has not made European pork more price-competitive compared to domestic pork. As long as this status quo persists, external supplies of pig meat will remain inactive,” the industry association predicted.
In general, in the first quarter of 2023, pork imports amounted to 3,160 tonnes, which is more than 75% less than in the first quarter of 2022, the analysts said.
On Friday, the Government of Ukraine approved amendments to Annex XVII-3 (Rules applicable to telecommunication services), Annex XVII to the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, creating the legal framework for the internal market regime in the telecommunications services sector, including with regard to roaming in public mobile networks, provided for by the draft decision of the Ukraine-EU Association Committee in Trade Configuration, Taras Melnychuk, a representative of the Cabinet of Ministers in the Verkhovna Rada, wrote on his Telegram channel.
“We are moving towards Roam like home with the EU. Today, we approved a document that will allow Ukraine to conclude an agreement with the European Union this year,” Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said, commenting on this decision on his Telegram channel.
At the same time, he said that joining the EU roaming space means not only the abolition of call charges, but also modern, transparent European rules in the field of telecommunications.
It is envisaged that the legislation in the field of telecommunications services in Ukraine, in particular with regard to roaming, will be supplemented taking into account current changes in EU legislation.
As First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko commented on the document, this government decision is one of the stages in the implementation of the updated Priority Action Plan agreed by the Ministry of Economy and the European Commission to strengthen the implementation of the Free Trade Area Agreement. The main focus of this plan is the integration of Ukraine into the internal market of the EU.
“The approval of the decision of the Ukraine-EU Association Committee in Trade Configuration will create conditions for Ukraine to receive an internal market regime in the field of roaming. This year, this area will be a pilot project for the full legal integration of Ukraine into internal European regulation,” the press service of the Ministry of Economy quoted Svyrydenko.
Housing prices in the European Union fell by 1.5% in the fourth quarter of 2022, writes the Financial Times citing the EU statistical service Eurostat.
Housing became cheaper during the quarter for the first time since 2015. Prices fell in 15 of the 27 EU countries amid tightening standards and rising lending costs.
Denmark (6.5 percent) and Germany (5 percent) recorded the largest price declines.
“In the coming quarters, we expect further deterioration in the price dynamics in the housing market,” the newspaper quotes the words of economist Ani Heimann of S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Over time, a lack of investment by construction companies will limit supply and stabilize prices, Heimann believes.
Data on the state of the market in some countries suggest that in early 2023, housing continues to get cheaper, said FT. For example, in the Netherlands, its value decreased by 1.5% in January-February.
The population of EU countries will decrease by 6% by 2100, the EU statistical service Eurostat predicts. From January 1, 2022 to January 1, 2100, the number of residents in the EU will decrease by 27.3 million, to 420 million. At the same time in 2022, the population began to recover after a decline associated with the coronavirus.
According to preliminary data, 451 million people lived in the EU on January 1, 2023, compared to 443.2 million in 2021. Eurostat attributes the increase to the mass influx of Ukrainian refugees.
The maximum population – 453 million people – is expected in 2026.
In 2022-2100, the proportion of residents aged 0 to 19 years will decrease from 20% to 18%, and from 20 to 64 years – from 59% to 50%. The shares of residents aged 65-79 and older will increase from 15% to 17% and from 6% to 15%, respectively.
Preliminary data of the census for 2021 indicate an increase of the population compared to 2011 in 16 EU countries and a decrease – in 9. The most significant increase for 10 years showed Luxembourg (26%), Malta (24%) and Sweden (10%), reduction – Bulgaria (11%), Croatia (10%), Latvia (9%) and Lithuania (8%).
The leaders in the number of inhabitants in 2021 were Germany (83.2 million), France (67.9 million), Italy (59 million), Spain (47.4 million) and Poland (37 million).
European Union leaders say they will continue to fully support Ukraine by providing political, economic, military, financial and humanitarian aid for as long as needed.
This is the case in the conclusions on Ukraine adopted at a European Council meeting Thursday in Brussels.
“The European Union firmly and fully supports Ukraine and will continue to provide strong political, economic, military, financial and humanitarian support to Ukraine and its people for as long as necessary. The European Union and member states will intensify their efforts to help meet Ukraine’s urgent military and defense needs,” the document said.
In addition, the findings state that the European Union remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction in coordination with international partners. “In this context, the European Council reiterates the EU’s full support for the establishment of an international mechanism to record the damage caused by Russia. Together with partners, the European Union will continue to step up efforts to use frozen and immobilized Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine and to make reparations in accordance with EU law and international law,” the text said.
EU leaders also welcomed Ukraine’s commitment and efforts to implement reforms and underlined the importance of Ukraine’s accession process in line with its earlier conclusions, in particular those of June 23-24, 2022.
