Poland’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Czesław Siekierski, has expressed dissatisfaction with how the European Commission communicated with EU member states regarding negotiations with Ukraine on new terms for importing Ukrainian agricultural products into the EU.
This was stated in an official statement by the Polish minister, issued in response to the European Commission’s announcement that negotiations with Ukraine on revising the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) had concluded, Ukrinform reports.
According to Poland’s Ministry of Agriculture, the European Commission provided EU member states with a general outline of the agreement with Ukraine, but did not disclose details, particularly the new tariff quotas, which are expected to be announced soon.
“I was disappointed with the way the EC informed the Member States about the end of negotiations with Ukraine on the last day of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council. As the Chairman of the EU Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (AGRIFISH), I have repeatedly drawn attention to the need for the European Commission to conduct trade negotiations in a more transparent manner and in dialogue with farmers. Meanwhile, the Commission has decided to end negotiations without prior consultation with either the EU Member States or agricultural organizations,” Siekierski stated.
The Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will analyze the proposed agreement once the text is made available by the Commission and will work with Poland’s Ministry of Development and Technology to prepare the government’s position.
As Ukrinform previously reported, on June 30, during a press conference in Brussels, EU Commissioners Maroš Šefčovič (Trade & Economic Security) and Christophe Hansen (Agriculture & Food) announced the conclusion of negotiations with Ukraine on updating the DCFTA.
According to the announcement, both sides reached a principled agreement to liberalize trade under the Association Agreement. Compared to the quota system reintroduced on June 6, the terms for Ukrainian producers will improve, with higher quotas for most agricultural goods — especially “critical products” such as poultry, eggs, sugar, and wheat. The deal also includes the liberalization of some dairy products and processed fruit goods.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the EU had temporarily suspended most trade restrictions with Ukraine. That autonomous trade regime was extended twice, each time for one year.
As of June 6, the EU introduced temporary trade measures that remain in effect until a new agreement with Ukraine is finalized.
Earlier, Minister Siekierski stated that Poland would not accept a return to the previous quota levels for Ukrainian agricultural imports that were in place before the latest trade restrictions were reinstated.
Photo: Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
