The European Commission has analysed the data related to the impact of exports of four categories of agricultural products from Ukraine on the EU market and decided not to extend the restrictive measures, was stated on the European Commission's website.
"Thanks to the work of the Coordination Platform and the temporary measures introduced on 2 May 2023, market deviations in the five Member States bordering Ukraine have disappeared," the EC said in a statement.
The European Commission noted that "the constructive attitude of all participants in the platform helped to solve concrete problems and ensured that exports to third countries outside the EU are flowing and even increasing."
The parties have now reached the following conclusions:
- existing measures will expire today, 15 September;
- Ukraine has agreed to introduce any legal measures (including, for example, an export licensing system) within 30 days to avoid grain surges;
- our country is to put in place from 16.09.2023 effective measures to control the export of four groups of goods in order to prevent any market distortions in the neighbouring Member States. Ukraine will submit an Action Plan to the platform no later than close-of-business on Monday 18 September 2023.
The European Commission and Ukraine will monitor the situation via the platform to be able to react to any unforeseen situations.
"The European Commission will refrain from imposing any restrictions as long as the effective measures by Ukraine are in place and fully working," the statement said.
Bulgaria supported the resumption of exports of Ukrainian agricultural products after 15 September. The relevant decision was made by the Parliament. Before that, Hungary agreed with three other countries to ban imports of Ukrainian grain after that date. And the Polish government adopted a resolution. At the same time, Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki said he had sent an ultimatum to the European Commission.
His Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal, said that Ukraine would appeal to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) arbitration if Poland extends the ban on imports of Ukrainian grain after 15 September.