Representatives of Ukraine and the EU to meet in Brussels to discuss the grain issue

Representatives of Ukraine and the EU to meet in Brussels to discuss the grain issue

On September 28, representatives of Ukraine and the European Union will meet in Brussels to discuss the export of Ukrainian grain.

The European Commission's spokesperson, Miriam Garcia Ferrer, stated this.

"We are finalising our comments on the Ukraine action plan that was presented on Monday during the last Coordination Platform meeting. The exchanges we have had so far were very constructive, and we see it as a very positive way forward. We will have the opportunity to finalise this action plan so that it can be put in place as soon as possible," the European Commission spokesperson said.

In particular, Ukraine plans to establish stricter export controls, conduct an information campaign to explain the vulnerability of markets in neighbouring countries, and summarise information on end users of agricultural products.

The main element of the plan is the introduction of licences for export operations with agricultural products: wheat, corn, sunflower seeds, and rapeseed.

This action plan covers five countries: Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria, the spokeswoman added.

It will be recalled that the embargo on Ukrainian grain supplies ended on September 15.

In response, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia imposed internal restrictions on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products. They explained this decision as being in their domestic interests.

However, on September 21, Slovakia and Ukraine agreed to lift the embargo on Ukrainian agricultural products, provided that a "system of grain trade based on the issuance and control of licences" is launched.

Romania, unlike Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia, did not impose national embargoes after the European Commission lifted the restrictions. The Romanian Prime Minister said he would come to Kyiv to finalise the agreement on further exports of Ukrainian grain to the country.