The EU has ended negotiations with Ukraine. Siekierski: The EC decided on this without consultation

The European Commission has decided to end negotiations with Ukraine without prior consultation with EU member states and agricultural organizations, said Minister of Agriculture Czesław Siekierski, commenting on the conclusion on Monday of an agreement on a new trade agreement with Ukraine.

On Monday, EU Trade Commissioner Marosh Shefchovich announced that the European Commission and Ukraine had reached a preliminary agreement on a new trade agreement. The agreement includes Ukraine's commitment to gradually align its agricultural production standards with EU standards by 2028. This includes issues such as animal welfare and pesticide use.

According to the Commissioner, the agreement opens a new chapter in EU-Ukraine trade relations, sets out a long-term, predictable and reciprocal framework that benefits exporters, businesses and farmers on both sides and strengthens Ukraine's path to EU membership. The agreement also includes - as he added - a "robust mechanism" to protect EU markets, especially in areas where imports from Ukraine could cause serious difficulties for Member States.

" I was disappointed with the way in which the EC informed the Member States about the end of negotiations with Ukraine on the last day of the Polish presidency of the EU Council. As the chairman of the EU Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (AGRIFISH), I have repeatedly drawn attention to the need for the European Commission to conduct trade negotiations in a more transparent manner and in dialogue with farmers," said Czesław Siekierski, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, in his statement regarding the information about this decision.

He noted that the EC decided to end the negotiations "without prior consultation with either the EU Member States or agricultural organisations".

The Ministry of Agriculture stated in a statement that the EC had provided a general description of the elements of the agreement, but had not provided details, including, first and foremost, the new level of tariff quotas. This information is to be provided in the near future. It added that after the text of the proposed agreement has been provided by the EC, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will analyse its content and cooperate with the Ministry of Development and Technology on matters relating to the position of the Polish Government regarding the agreement.

In June 2022, the EU decided to temporarily lift tariffs and quantitative limits on agricultural products from Ukraine. The decision was made in response to the Russian invasion and was intended to support Ukraine in the face of higher costs of exporting through the EU after Russia threatened the security of traditional shipping routes in the Black Sea.

However, these trade preferences were suspended in early June. The reason was protests in EU countries neighboring Ukraine, especially Poland, caused by the excessive inflow of cheaper Ukrainian grain, poultry meat and sugar.

As a result, the EU returned to the pre-war trade agreement with Ukraine, reintroducing tariffs and quantitative limits on some agricultural products. The EC said at the time that the agreement would remain in force until a new agreement with Ukraine was negotiated.

As EU Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen said at a press conference on Monday, full liberalisation has been agreed for some products, such as dairy products such as powdered milk and fermented milk, but also mushrooms and grape juice.

The agreement still requires agreement on technical issues. The outcome of these negotiations will have to be approved by both parties in the appropriate procedures. In the case of the EU, the agreement will have to be supported by the member states within the EU Council. (PAP)

bpk/ drag/