Slovakia ignores EU warning and bans grain imports from Ukraine

Slovakia has develop into the third EU nation to ban meals imports from Ukraine, brushing apart warnings from Brussels over the potential illegality of the transfer.

Poland and Hungary introduced their bans on the weekend, with all three international locations saying {that a} mountain of imported Ukrainian grain was miserable costs and inflicting hardship for his or her farmers. Warsaw and Budapest’s bans will final till June 30.

The European Fee, the bloc’s government arm, has warned that commerce is a joint EU competence and governments can not take unilateral measures.

The EU dropped tariffs and quotas on Ukrainian foodstuffs till June after its invasion by Russia due to fears that the world may go hungry.

However a lot of the Ukrainian grain getting into the bloc has remained in neighbouring international locations, resulting in protests by farmers.

On Monday, Slovakia stated it will bar all cereals, soyabeans, sugar, fruit, greens, wine and honey. Ukrainian meals can transit the nation however solely in sealed containers.

Bulgaria and Romania instructed fellow member states at a gathering of diplomats in Brussels on Monday that they too have been contemplating a ban, in response to EU officers. The Czech Republic, the place farmers are additionally complaining, stated it most popular a European resolution.

Some international locations expressed fears that the division over Ukraine would play into Russia’s arms.

The fee is about to pledge additional support from its €450mn emergency agricultural reserve within the subsequent few days, officers stated. Poland, Bulgaria and Romania have been supplied €56mn lately and the following tranche will in all probability be prolonged to Slovakia and Hungary, though the whole has but to be introduced.

Regardless of the bans, EU international locations will in all probability delay tariff-free entry for Ukrainian meals for an additional 12 months at a gathering on Thursday, two diplomats instructed the Monetary Occasions.

Beneficial

“There’s a certified majority of member states who wish to prolong,” stated one.

The European Fee stated on Monday that Brussels was nonetheless in search of particulars of the authorized foundations for the measures applied by Poland and Hungary, limiting imports from Ukraine.

It stated that “unilateral motion” was not doable by member states underneath EU commerce coverage because it was a matter of unique Brussels competence.

It’s uncommon that member states impose nationwide restrictions outdoors an emergency such because the Covid pandemic.

“We have to perceive underneath which foundation these international locations are introducing such import bans,” the fee stated.

“It’s essential to proceed supporting Ukraine in these very difficult instances whereas, after all, we’re conscious of the affect on EU farmers.”