The European Union is preparing emergency restrictions on the import of Ukrainian grain to five member states after the introduction of unilateral bans by Poland and Hungary.
The Financial Times writes about it.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc would take "preventive measures." A high-ranking EU official noted that the discussed steps will ban the import of products until June into the four member states bordering Ukraine, as well as Bulgaria, with the exception of re-exports to other EU member states or parts of the world.
In a letter to the leaders of Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Bulgaria, von der Leyen said the steps would "immediately counteract" the worsening situation for their producers of wheat, corn, oilseeds and sunflower seeds.
The commission has said it will only take action if governments withdraw their current measures, which they have not yet agreed to. In addition, the countries will receive 100 million euros from EU funds to compensate farmers.
After a meeting with the five countries, Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski said they were considering a "quick solution".
In a joint statement, they said: "We underlined the importance of a swift, joint EU approach, rather than unilateral decisions, to avoid multiple bans and decisions that put the internal market at risk."
Brussels plans to organize convoys of trucks, trains and barges to transport the grain to ports where it can be shipped to countries that need it, another official said. It will also increase the carrying capacity of the Danube River.
Many commercial traders refused to pay for this transport because it costs more than the traditional maritime trade through the Black Sea.
It remains unclear how this will be financed and organized. Yes, Spain tried to subsidize the train to transport grain across the continent, but imports from Latin America were much cheaper.
The head of the European Parliament's agriculture committee, Norbert Lins, believes that Brussels should buy grain itself and send it to third countries: "The Commission has the tools and should use them."
