Lithuania proposes to the EU to increase exports of Ukrainian grain through the Baltic countries

UkrAgroConsult

Lithuanian ministers have appealed to EU officials with a proposal to increase grain exports from Ukraine via a transport route to the ports of the Baltic States. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.

According to the ministry, in a letter to the European Commission, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis and Minister of Agriculture Kęstutis Navickas emphasized that Russia’s decision to withdraw from the grain deal and missile attacks on ports in Odesa region worsen the already difficult food security situation.

According to Lithuanian officials, the route between Ukraine and the Baltic states could be a promising and long-term alternative for grain exports.

They argue that improving the corridor’s infrastructure and simplifying cargo transshipment between different railroad tracks will help increase throughput.

At the same time, the ministers added, simplification of administrative procedures on the Polish-Ukrainian border, introduction of “green lines” and transfer of customs clearance to the ports of the Baltic countries would allow to increase the volume of agricultural products transportation by both road and rail several times.

“The infrastructure of the Baltic States can become a promising and reliable transit route for Ukrainian products. The seaports of the Baltic countries have a large throughput capacity for agricultural products – 25 million tons of grain alone per year,” they emphasized.

Tags: grain, EU, Lithuania, Ukraine, export