The EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski expressed “surprise” at the complaint that Ukraine filed this Monday before the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Poland, Hungary and Slovakia over national vetoes on Ukrainian grain after the expiry of restrictions in these three countries as well Bulgaria and Romania granted the aid granted by Brussels to avoid distortions in their markets due to the increase in grain shipments to the EU.
“I was quite surprised that Ukraine chose this path, given the enormous efforts that the Member States have made so far,” the Commissioner said at the press conference after the meeting of EU agriculture and fisheries ministers in Brussels this Monday.
In addition to highlighting the “enormous efforts” of the three countries that decided to extend restrictions on wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds in the opposite direction to Brussels’ decision to lift them, he pointed out that “as a former judge” this is the case “He can only imagine an “amicable solution” because “that is always better than going to court.”
“It would be very easy to show that Ukraine has not suffered any damage in terms of export volumes,” he added, arguing that “with the ban in effect, there have been more grain exports.”
The commissioner has denied that sanctions are planned against the countries that have introduced these unilateral measures and hopes to resolve the conflict “through dialogue and mutual agreements”. “I remain optimistic, although I am aware that this claim by Ukraine hinders this dialogue to some extent, but I hope that we can resolve the issue amicably,” he stressed.
However, he stated that the EU “is aware of Ukraine’s difficult situation in the face of this cruel aggression” and has assured that it will do everything in its power to help the country, but “without stopping EU farmers to protect”. “We need mutual understanding,” he emphasized.
