Slovakia and Poland will demand money from the EU to protect their farmers from imports from Ukraine

Slovakia and other EU countries neighboring Ukraine will demand the creation of a special fund to support farmers affected by imports of Ukrainian agricultural products. This was stated by the country’s Minister of Agriculture Richard Takacs, TASR reports.

According to him, the current parameters of access of Ukrainian products to the EU market differ from the previous promises of the European Commission.

Takacs claims that instead of an additional increase in quotas by 25%, the European Commission is now talking about increasing them by 400-500% for honey and sugar. This, in his opinion, means significantly larger volumes of duty-free imports.

The minister also expressed doubts about the quality and safety of Ukrainian products, stating that European farmers adhere to strict standards that, according to him, Ukrainian producers do not adhere to. He added that it is more profitable for Ukrainian exporters to sell their goods in the EU border countries, avoiding expensive transport to the West.

The Slovak minister stressed that the country’s government will put pressure on the European Commission not only through the relevant ministry, but also through the prime minister, demanding the creation of a separate fund within the framework of the new financial architecture and common agricultural policy for the states bordering Ukraine.

According to him, all of Ukraine’s neighbors should act together to increase quotas and launch a compensation mechanism. He reached the same position on Monday with his Polish counterpart, the Slovak minister added.

State Secretary of the Polish Ministry of Agriculture Stefan Krajewski confirmed that neighboring states are discussing trade relations with Ukraine. He stressed that support for Ukraine will be combined with concern for farmers, processors and businesses in EU countries.

Tags: Ukraine, subsidies, EU, Poland