European farmers are increasingly protesting against the duty-free import of Ukrainian agricultural products into the EU, Terre-net reports.
A demonstration in Bulgaria, the dumping of Ukrainian grain on the border with Poland, a rally with the participation of 900 tractors in Brussels, as well as the slogan: "We want to help, but not at any price" from Romanian agricultural workers became the latest manifestations of this anger.
Agricultural workers' unions in France and Germany warn that the integration of Ukraine into the European food industry would be a disaster and could lead to the complete disappearance of family farms in Europe.
As the publication explains, large arable lands make Ukraine a major exporter of wheat, corn and sunflower. At the same time, Ukrainian products in the EU are exempted from customs duties in the name of European solidarity, but are still far from European standards, especially regarding pesticides.
Although Poles, Romanians or Bulgarians have agreed to allow Ukrainian grain to transit through their territory, they demand guarantees that it will be supplied to the world market and not used to drive down prices in Europe.
As the publication notes, the European policy of solidarity with Ukraine harms EU farmers. If Ukraine previously exported 20,000 tons of sugar to the European Union per year, in 2023-2024, according to French sugar beet producers, its volume may exceed 700,000 tons. .
At the end of January, Brussels announced a mechanism for the re-introduction of customs duties on "sensitive" products: poultry, eggs and sugar.
Grain producers immediately called for similar measures for wheat, barley and corn, warning of the risk of a "collapse of the common market".
