Euroaktiv reports that the Agrarian Committee of the European Parliament has greenlit new protection measures aimed at curbing the influx of Ukrainian agricultural products into the EU market. The decision comes in response to the demands of farmers from several EU countries.
The Committee’s resolution emphasizes the necessity of strengthening safeguard measures across all sectors. It advocates for extending “emergency” measures, originally intended for eggs, poultry, and sugar, to include grains, oilseeds, and honey.
In determining the excess of average import levels, the Committee suggests utilizing “pre-war” indicators from 2021-2022. This contrasts with the European Commission’s proposal, which favors indicators from 2022-2023.
Furthermore, the Committee recommends utilizing funds from the 50 billion euros allocated to Ukraine for the purchase and storage of imported Ukrainian agricultural products. This strategic move aims to stabilize market prices in the event of excessive import volumes.
The conclusions drawn by the Agrarian Committee will be forwarded to the Committee on Trade for further consideration or potential rejection of the proposed amendments.
The European Parliament is set to conduct the final vote on the Ukrainian issue on March 7, marking a pivotal moment in determining the fate of these protective measures.