The European embargo on Ukrainian agricultural products came into effect from today

The European Union's decision to embargo four Ukrainian products — wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds — comes into effect today. In particular, according to the Polish mass media, until today Poland had to cancel its own ban on the import of several dozen agricultural products from Ukraine in order to replace it with a decision of the European Union.

Poland must waive the ban in accordance with the agreements between the five countries and the European Commission. The European Commission is already working on an EU regulation banning imports of wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds to five countries and wants the regulation to enter into force on May 2.

We will remind you that Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia have confirmed that they will cancel national measures as soon as possible. Now the European Commission is waiting for concrete decisions on this matter. It is about avoiding the parallel application of prohibitions.

From now on, sunflower oil and other agricultural products will be subject to further investigation, and if it finds problems in the market, tariffs may be imposed. Also, farmers from five countries will receive 100 million euros, of which Polish farmers - almost 40 million. The list of goods from Ukraine, which Brussels agrees to ban from import to five countries, including Poland, is smaller. It does not contain sunflower oil.

In turn, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine sent a note of protest to the Embassy of Poland and the EU Representation in Ukraine, reacting to restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural exports. This was announced by the spokesman of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Oleg Nikolenko.

"There are all legal grounds for the immediate resumption of the export of Ukrainian agricultural goods to Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria, as well as the continuation of unhindered exports to other EU member states and generally unhindered transit of all Ukrainian products to other countries both within the borders and outside the EU," said Oleg Nikolenko.

According to him, Ukrainian diplomats called the situation with the import ban categorically unacceptable, and the restrictions do not comply with the current Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union and violate the principles of the EU Single Market.

Currently, the Ukrainian side called on the European partners to find a balanced solution that complies with the legislation of the European Union, the Association Agreement, as well as the spirit of solidarity.