The European Union does not intend to continue the temporary regime of duty -free import of agricultural products from Ukraine, which expires on May 18. This was reported by the European Commission Olof Gill during a briefing in Brussels.
The regime imposed as temporary support after the start of a full -scale invasion of Russia allowed Ukrainian farmers to export products to the European market without tariffs and quotas. However, recently, contradictions have been aggravated around this issue, especially from farm communities in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania, which have declared losses due to influx of Ukrainian grain.
Instead of continuing the EU, it proposes a new format - to integrate privileged access of Ukrainian agricultural products to the EU market within the framework of the current Association Agreement, in particular - in the in -depth and comprehensive free trade area (DCFTA). This will allow you to set more stable, predictable and balanced rules for both parties in the future.
“We think it is time to move to a system approach. Temporary measures should be replaced with long -term mechanisms agreed under existing agreements, ”Gill said.
The issue of trade in Ukrainian grain has also become a political stimulus in the context of elections to the European Parliament and the growth of populist movements in some countries. Therefore, the decision not to continue benefits is an attempt to find a balance between Ukraine's support and internal political challenges.
At the same time, the European Commission emphasizes that the EU does not refuse to support the Ukrainian economy - it is only a transition to a more structured regime.
