European farmers demand stricter restrictions on imports from Ukraine outside

At the end of January, the European Commission proposed extending the suspension of tariffs and quotas on imports from Ukraine for one year, starting in June. But this will be accompanied by measures to avoid problems in national markets. For example, there is talk of possible “quick corrective measures” in the event of market disruptions, and there will be a curb on imports of poultry, eggs and sugar, with tariffs reintroduced on imports above a certain ceiling.

The proposal is currently being studied by Member States and members of the European Parliament. But the pan-European agricultural organization Copa-Cogeca and five European sector organizations (beets, eggs, poultry and others) are not convinced. “If the proposed text is not amended, the economic viability of the European poultry, egg, sugar, grain and honey sectors will be at risk,” they said in a joint press release.

According to them, the proposed ceiling for poultry, eggs and sugar is so high that it reaches the level of quantities that “just caused” the current crisis. They also expressed their regret that there were no (automatic) restrictions in the proposal on cereals and honey, despite the vast Ukrainian production capacity in those sectors.

The organizations feel that Member States and the European Parliament do not intend to make many changes to the text. They warn that there will likely be new demonstrations or a “unilateral ban” in countries bordering Ukraine.

Unfair competition by products imported from Ukraine is one complaint from the farmer protests that have erupted across Europe in recent weeks. According to the organizations, thousands of agricultural companies are at risk of bankruptcy in countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia. The problem extends to “France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Austria…,” she says, “where grain, poultry and sugar producers are under increasing pressure” because of exported products “that do not meet our environmental and health requirements.” social standards” and “pushing prices down.”