Hungary has not lifted restrictions on agricultural imports from Ukraine – European Commission
In exchange for the abolition of restrictions on agricultural imports from Ukraine, the EU offered Hungary an assistance package.
To date, Hungary is the only country that still maintains unilateral restrictions on agricultural imports from Ukraine.
This was stated at a briefing in Brussels by the European Commission’s press secretary for trade and agriculture, Miriam Garcia Ferrer, noting that a package of assistance was offered by the EU to Hungary, Ukrinform reports.
“There is still one country that has not lifted unilateral measures against agricultural exports from Ukraine. This should not necessarily affect Ukrainian transit, and does not apply to the entire EU. But we have proposed an aid package on the condition that unilateral measures should be withdrawn. Country, which did not do this – Hungary,” said the press secretary of the European Commission.
She recalled that the European Commission agreed with the neighboring countries of Ukraine a package of measures that was to be implemented after the states canceled their sole actions against agricultural imports from Ukraine.
“We had a presentation of these events with the participation of different countries on May 3rd. Then we discussed the aid package for 100 million euros and the conditions for its placement. At the moment, we are still waiting for the elimination of certain unilateral measures that have been introduced before we can take the next step,” Ferrer added.
She also noted that the European Commission received a letter from several member countries that protest against the allocation of assistance to five countries.
“The European Commission received such a letter in May, that is, this month. We will soon provide an answer. But I cannot foresee at this moment what such a response will be,” said the press secretary of the European Commission.
The Grain Situation
Earlier, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania unilaterally banned the import of Ukrainian agricultural products to their domestic market due to the dissatisfaction of local farmers. Moreover, Poland for a short time banned even the transit of Ukrainian grain.
On April 29, 2023, Ukraine protested to Poland and the EU because of the ban on the export of Ukrainian grain.
On May 18, 2023, the grain deal was extended, bypassing Moscow’s ultimatum at the “request” of Turkey.