The extension of the European Union's ban on export of Ukrainian agricultural products to the five bordering countries will not resolve the problem of their oversupply with Ukrainian grain, Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Nikolai Solsky said.
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"The imposed restrictive measures must be lifted and sustainable solutions must be found in consultations involving Ukraine. We need to make all decision together, adhering to principles of the unity and the internal market regime of the EU," Ukrainian media quoted Solsky as saying at a meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on May 29-30.
Solsky thanked the 14 agriculture ministers who signed a letter containing remarks about such approach of the European Commission to resolving the issue.
In accordance with the European regulations, research is needed before making decisions, he said.
"We are completely ready for such research, and we request that the EU follow the rules established by the EU," he said, calling on his counterparts to carry out an individual analysis taking into account the economic factors in order to make the most efficient decisions.
Solsky called on European agriculture ministers to endorse the idea voiced by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about the creation of a consultation platform for Ukrainian agricultural exports between Ukraine and the EU in order to ensure the operations of solidarity paths.
Solsky noted that the EU member states bordering on Ukraine, which banned the import of Ukrainian agricultural products, strengthened their export potential, increased their domestic processing and improved the competitiveness of their livestock breeding sector in 2022 through import from Ukraine.
"In particular, Poland increased its exports by more than a quarter, reaching an all time high of 47.5 billion euros. The production of poultry grew by 7.5% thanks to Ukrainian grain, among other things," he said.
According to Solsky, Poland and other countries of the Eastern Europe, where restrictions are in effect, have imported agricultural products, including food, from Ukraine totaling 7 billion euros, and, of them, grains and oils seeds, which were exported to other countries after transshipment, accounted for about 3.5 billion euros.
"If we look at exports of grains and oilseeds alone, Ukrainian transit makes up 80% of it. At the same time, the exports of agricultural products from these five countries increased by 18 billion euros in 2022," Solsky said.
Solsky also pointed out that in 2023, exports of grains and oilseeds from Ukraine decreased by a third to 46 million tonnes a year, therefore, Ukraine would export 40% less of grain. ■