European Parliament calls for an urgent embargo on Russian grain

Representatives of the majority of political groups in the European Parliament have called for sanctions on food and agricultural products from Russia and Belarus.

The European Parliament discussed restrictive measures in this sector during an emergency debate on Tuesday, March 12. So far, this category of goods has not been subject to EU sanctions.

On behalf of the group of the European People’s Party, the largest in the European Parliament, Polish MP Andrzej Halicki called for an immediate embargo on Russian agricultural products. He said that his colleagues are waiting for the European Commission to draft a bill that will be presented at a meeting of the EU Council.

“Russia is throwing its food into Europe and using it as a weapon. We are now seeing an increase in imports of food and grain from Russia and Belarus at dumping prices. This is an extremely disturbing trend,” he said.

According to statistics, in the Netherlands, these imports increased by 70% compared to a year ago, and in Spain, Germany and Italy – by 40%.

“The EU’s trade with the aggressor state of Russia and the Belarus that supports it is immoral and must be stopped. The proceeds serve the military purposes of the aggressors, and this works against Ukrainians and against all of us,” said Lithuanian MP Petras Auštrevičius.

As a reminder, on March 8, the Polish Sejm adopted a resolution to impose sanctions in connection with the import of Russian and Belarusian food and agricultural products to the European Union.

Tags: grain, EU, restrictions, Russia