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Slovakia has grow to be the third EU nation to ban meals imports from Ukraine, brushing apart warnings from Brussels over the potential illegality of the transfer.
Poland and Hungary introduced their bans on the weekend, with all three international locations saying {that a} mountain of imported Ukrainian grain was miserable costs and inflicting hardship for his or her farmers. Warsaw and Budapest’s bans will final till June 30.
The European Fee, the bloc’s govt arm, has warned that commerce is a joint EU competence and governments can’t take unilateral measures.
The EU dropped tariffs and quotas on Ukrainian foodstuffs till June after its invasion by Russia due to fears that the world may go hungry.
However a lot of the Ukrainian grain coming into the bloc has remained in neighbouring international locations, resulting in protests by farmers.
On Monday, Slovakia mentioned it might bar all cereals, soyabeans, sugar, fruit, greens, wine and honey. Ukrainian meals can transit the nation however solely in sealed containers.
Bulgaria and Romania advised fellow member states at a gathering of diplomats in Brussels on Monday that they too had been contemplating a ban, in keeping with EU officers. The Czech Republic, the place farmers are additionally complaining, mentioned it most popular a European answer.
Some international locations expressed fears that the division over Ukraine would play into Russia’s hands.
The fee is about to pledge additional support from its €450mn emergency agricultural reserve within the subsequent few days, officers mentioned. Poland, Bulgaria and Romania had been supplied €56mn lately and the following tranche will most likely be prolonged to Slovakia and Hungary, though the whole has but to be introduced.
Regardless of the bans, EU international locations will most likely extend tariff-free entry for Ukrainian meals for one more yr at a gathering on Thursday, two diplomats advised the Monetary Occasions.
“There’s a certified majority of member states who need to prolong,” mentioned one.
The European Fee mentioned on Monday that Brussels was nonetheless looking for particulars of the authorized foundations for the measures carried out by Poland and Hungary, limiting imports from Ukraine.
It mentioned that “unilateral motion” was not potential by member states underneath EU commerce coverage because it was a matter of unique Brussels competence.
It’s uncommon that member states impose nationwide restrictions exterior an emergency such because the Covid pandemic.
“We have to perceive underneath which foundation these international locations are introducing such import bans,” the fee mentioned.
“It’s vital to proceed supporting Ukraine in these very difficult instances whereas, after all, we’re conscious of the affect on EU farmers.”
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