The EU will extend benefits for Ukrainian farmers for another year, but with the right of "emergency braking". The list of products that can be "slowed down" has expanded to include the main export product of Ukraine - grain.
The European Council and the European Parliament have previously approved the extension of the abolition of customs duties until June 5, 2025.
It was noted there that the European Commission can take "operational measures" if disruptions occur on the markets of one or more EU countries due to Ukrainian imports.
Namely, "any measures it deems necessary if there is a significant disruption in the EU market or the markets of one or more EU countries due to Ukrainian imports."
Such "emergency braking" has already been foreseen for poultry, eggs, and sugar. But this time, the members of the European Parliament managed to expand this list at the expense of oats, corn, groats and honey.
"They also obtained firm commitments from the Commission to take measures in the event of a sharp increase in wheat imports from Ukraine. The base period for launching the emergency braking will be 2022 and 2023, which means that if the import of these products exceeds the average volumes for these two years, the tariffs will be re-introduced," the European Parliament said in a statement.
It was also decided that such decisions will be made in 14 days (previously it was 21).
The EU Parliament and the Council must finally approve the agreement by June 5, when the current deadline for the suspension of tariffs expires.
