Blocking Ukrainian grain is helping Russia

Don't do anything that weakens Ukraine. Make sure that Ukrainian grain reaches Africa. Don't take unilateral action infringing EU law. These are the messages of the EPP Group to the Polish, Hungarian and Slovakian Governments who announced a unilateral block of Ukrainian grain from entering the European Union.

“European governments must not act in detriment to solidarity for Ukraine during the war. Before unilaterally deciding to block export ways for Ukrainian goods, we need to have detailed information on why this grain or other products were not transited further out of Europe and what is the exact amount of the Ukrainian grain or other products stocked in European warehouses. We also need to know what the requests are of the protesting farmers in the Member States. Any unilateral action by Member States will only be a move in favour of Russia", said Sandra Kalniete MEP, who is responsible for the European Parliament's position on the temporary trade liberalisation of Ukrainian products.

"The problems of farmers in Ukraine’s neighbouring countries are real and the Commissioner for agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, needs to provide concrete solutions for the problems. He needs to see that the neighbours get help. The so-called solidarity lanes were established to help transport Ukrainian food into third countries when Russian aggression closed the Ukrainian harbours. We ask the governments of the Member States to properly implement these lanes so that the transports end up where they should. The grain is meant to go to destinations outside the EU market. We must avoid market disturbances inside Europe. Blocking transports won't help either Ukraine or those outside Europe who are suffering most from rising food prices", said Herbert Dorfmann MEP, the EPP Group's Spokesman on agriculture.