Polish ministry changes its mind about banning transit of Ukrainian grain

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Republic of Poland did not apply to the government to suspend the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products.

This is stated in a statement by the Ministry following the talks between Minister Czeslaw Siekerski and representatives of protesting farmers on the night of April 3, 2024.

The ministry noted that the agreements signed in Yasenka between the protesters and the government have been largely implemented. In particular, it concerns five points related to the “green deal”, grain subsidies, and the preservation of taxes at the level of 2023. In addition, the embargo on the import of grain, corn, rapeseed, sunflower, flour, bran, meal and cake from Ukraine remains in place.

“Given that the Ukrainian side has announced that it will minimize the transit of its agricultural products through the territory of Poland from April to June this year, the Ministry of Agriculture has not requested the termination of the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products through the territory of Poland,” the statement said.

The ministry emphasized that it was fulfilling the requirements and agreements with representatives of the protesting farmers. According to Czeslaw Sekerski, a number of measures require many inter-ministerial agreements and special procedures, which extends the implementation of the agreements.

A group of Polish farmers spent the night in the building of the Ministry of Agriculture after unsuccessful conversations with its leadership, now they want to meet with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, RMF24 reports. The protesters accuse the government of failing to fulfill the agreements in Yasenka.

“The negotiations did not bring the expected results. Minister Sekerski was pushed to the wall because everything depends on Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who does not care about the voice of farmers who are waiting for specifics,” said Tomasz Obrzanski, head of the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union of Individual Farmers “Solidarity” (NSZZ Rolników Indywidualnych “Solidarność”).

In the morning, a small group of farmers remained in front of the ministry’s headquarters. Farmers from other parts of Poland are on their way to Warsaw, assured those demanding a meeting with Tusk. However, it is not known how large this group is.

The Union of Farmers and Agricultural Organizations distanced itself from the protest.

Tags: Ukraine, grain, Poland, restrictions