Poland has also decided to ban the import of sunflower oil from Ukraine / Article

Consequently, sunflower oil has joined wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds produced in Ukraine, the import ban of which was already introduced by Poland. However, Warsaw is actively working to add a number of other Ukrainian agricultural products to this list.

Poland will have to provide transit opportunities for Ukrainian products

Polish Minister of Agriculture Robert Telus announced to his country’s media on Tuesday evening after the meeting of agriculture ministers of the European Union member states in Luxembourg that the EC has agreed to ban the import of sunflower oil from Ukraine to Poland.

However, Poland will have to ensure that Ukrainian sunflower oil can reach buyers elsewhere in Europe through its territory.

Telus also said that Poland will not abandon the blockade of Ukrainian agricultural imports until it receives adequate guarantees from the EC that the incomes of local farmers will not suffer from the influx of cheaper agricultural products from Ukraine.

That is why Warsaw continues to negotiate with Brussels to allow Poland to temporarily ban the import of other Ukrainian agricultural products, such as flour, honey, sugar, frozen fruit, eggs, meat, milk and dairy products, as well as apple juice.

The Polish government defends the interests of its farmers

Poland announced earlier this month that it was completely blocking imports of Ukrainian grain after Polish farmers protested against the drop in grain prices caused by huge amounts of Ukrainian grain being brought into the country.

Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Bulgaria also joined this ban. Later, a compromise was reached with the EC that these countries would allow the transit of Ukrainian grain through their territory.

Polish Agriculture Minister Telus said this week that Warsaw had “opened the eyes” of Brussels with its actions.

“We took a very brave step, even though we were threatened that we were violating the laws of the European Union.

We did it to protect Polish farmers. No one else in Europe did. We were the first to dare to do something like that, because the interests of the farmers are the most important to us.

We have shown the European Union that there is a problem, because until now they thought there was no problem. It was the European Union that lifted tariffs on agricultural products from Ukraine, but no further action followed.

We understand that the tariffs were canceled because Ukraine needs help, but no instruments have been introduced that would force production from Ukraine to go to all of Europe. Thanks to our actions, the European Union is talking to us today,” Telus said in an interview with TVMN.

The EC is continuing talks with Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria to iron out differences that threaten EU unity amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. But Brussels has refused these countries’ demand to create a 100 million euro fund to support local farmers.

CONTEXT:

Last month, Poland and four other Central European countries asked the European Union for help to counter the impact of Ukraine’s cheap grain.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022, on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the export of Ukrainian grain and other products through the ports was hampered, and other alternative routes were sought.

Ukraine’s grain exports continued to transit through the European Union to other countries, but logistical problems had led to stockpiles of grain and reduced prices for local produce, prompting protests by farmers and the resignation of Poland’s agriculture minister.

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