News in brief:
– EU’s recent move to extend trade benefits to Ukraine sparks joint protests by Eastern European farmers concerned about potential market flooding with Kyiv’s agricultural products.
– Ongoing discussions within the EU-Ukraine Coordination Platform focus on safeguard measures, while MEPs question the timing of the proposal, setting the stage for a crucial decision by EU countries on Wednesday.
Farmers across Eastern Europe are gearing up for a joint protest against the EU’s move to extend trade benefits to Ukraine, a news report says.
The European Commission’s meeting with neighboring countries on Tuesday sets the stage for heightened tensions, culminating in a mass demonstration on Thursday.
The focal point of the dispute revolves around the EU’s consideration of extending Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs) with Ukraine. Local farmers are expressing worries about the potential inundation of Kyiv’s agricultural products into the EU market.
Eastern Europe takes a stand
In response to the perceived threat, farmers from Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, and the Czech Republic, in collaboration with their Polish counterparts, are set to take to the streets on Thursday. Blockades on the Ukrainian-Polish border have further intensified the situation.
The EU-Ukraine Coordination Platform, established in 2023, will convene on Tuesday. This platform includes Ukraine, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and the European Commission. The countries most affected by the surge in Ukrainian products, especially poultry, eggs, and sugar, will strategise on the way forward.
Safeguard measures and ongoing discussions
To address concerns, the EU executive has implemented “safeguard measures,” including an “emergency brake” if the influx of products exceeds average import volumes in 2022 and 2023. Discussions within the Coordination Platform aim to find lasting medium- to long-term solutions, with ongoing contacts between the Commission and affected member states.
Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland currently maintain unilateral bans on Ukrainian products. The timing of the Commission’s proposal has sparked debate, with MEPs questioning the urgency and threatening the expiration of current measures.
The European Parliament’s trade committee discussed the proposal on Monday, facing criticism for its timing. The possibility of approving the Commission’s proposal without amendments draws sharp criticism from farmers’ organisations. On Wednesday, EU countries will deliberate on the issue, with indications that a wide majority prefers not to amend the proposal.
