The EC extended restrictions on the import of Ukrainian grain to five EU countries until September 15

The European Commission (EC) has extended the ban on grain imports from Ukraine to several Eastern European countries until September 15. It follows from the document published in the official journal of the European Union.

The document says that “important logistical bottlenecks still remain” and there is insufficient infrastructure in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia to cope with the increase in traffic, especially at the borders with Ukraine. There is a lack of equipment and storage facilities in these countries, which affects the economic situation of local producers. The EC expects that the situation will change in the next few months.

The regulation comes into force from the date of its official publication. It refers to restrictions on the import of wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower.

Earlier May 5 on the extension of restrictions on grain imports until September 15 informed Minister of Agriculture of Poland Robert Telus. He hoped that the document would come into force on June 6.

May 31 Reuters wrotethat Hungary asked the EU to extend the import ban until the end of this year. In addition, the country requested financial support for local farmers. This is necessary to facilitate the transportation of stocks of grain that are stuck in internal warehouses before harvest.

In April, a number of Eastern European countries temporarily banned the import of Ukrainian grain. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the governments of Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic that Brussels is “preparing a new support package of 100 million euros” for farmers in these countries from EU funds in exchange for their governments lifting bans on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products.

On May 2, the European Commission banned the export of grain from Ukraine to Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, but allowed its transit and export to other EU countries. The measure is valid until today, June 5. In May, the EU Council extended the abolition of all tariffs and quotas on exports from Ukraine until June 2024 (this does not apply to exports to the above countries). The ban on the collection of duties on goods from Ukraine was approved by the EU countries in the summer of 2022.