Negotiations to unblock imports of Ukrainian agricultural products to the EU between Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and the European Commission (EC) continue. The EU offered a package of financial assistance to five countries neighboring Ukraine in exchange for the lifting of restrictive measures on Ukrainian agricultural products, informs the Ukrainian government portal.
“These countries will receive the package offered by the Commission on condition that member states cancel their unilateral measures,” EC Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said after a meeting with representatives of Ukraine and the five EU member states that restrict the export of Ukrainian agricultural products.
According to him, the European Commission understands the importance of a joint EU approach rather than unilateral decisions, which can lead to new bans and thereby endanger the internal European market.
“The Commission has taken note of the views of the participants. We agreed to continue political consultations in the coming days to find an early solution to this problem,” Dombrovskis summarized.
The ban on the transit of Ukrainian grain through the territory of Poland and other countries was imposed last week. Poland subsequently pledged to unblock the transit of Ukrainian products through the territory of a neighboring country.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) will consider unblocking Ukrainian ports for food security at the 12th Ministerial Conference on June 12-15 in Geneva.
“We are grateful for the personal efforts of the Director General of the WTO to find a solution to the logistics of Ukrainian grain, so important for Ukraine, Africa and the world. Free and fair trade will save the world from hunger and poverty,” the press service quoted the First Deputy Prime Minister as saying. Minister of Economy Yulia Sviridenko following her meeting with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okondji-Ivela at the World Economic Forum.
During the meeting, the parties also agreed on cooperation on the eve of the 12th Ministerial Conference.
