Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia support extending a EU ban on Ukrainian grain import until the end of the year

Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia support the extension of the European Union's ban on imports of Ukrainian grain to these countries until the end of the year.

This was announced by Polish Agriculture Minister Robert Telus, Reuters reports.

The EU introduced temporary import restrictions on May 2 this year and allowed these five countries to ban domestic sales of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower. The transit of these goods is allowed.

The countries explained the decision to ban imports by supporting local farmers who could not compete with cheap Ukrainian grain.

The ban is due to expire on September 15, but Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia want to extend it until the end of 2023.

"I want to say that even if it fails, some countries will introduce their own restrictions," said Robert Telus. At the same time, the agriculture ministers of the five countries support subsidies for grain transit.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called the extension of restrictions on agricultural imports " absolutely unacceptable".

"Such unilateral restrictions do not comply with the spirit and letter of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and the principles and norms of the EU Single Market," the Foreign Ministry wrote. 

The Ministry calls on the EU leadership and the countries involved to find a balanced solution based on EU law and the Association Agreement. The Foreign Ministry noted that some of the countries have received increased funding for their agricultural sectors from the European budget.

It will be recalled that in July, Hungarian Agriculture Minister István Nagy said that the countries planned to appeal to the EU to extend the ban on imports of Ukrainian grain.