EU provides details of funds distribution to support 5 states in exchange for lifting import restrictions on Ukraine

The European Commission on Wednesday detailed a proposal for financial support from five EU countries in exchange for the lifting of unilateral import restrictions on agricultural goods from Ukraine

This is stated in the report of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Agricultural Development.

The support, as expected, provides for the allocation of EUR 100 million from the EU's agricultural reserve to support farmers producing grains and oilseeds in five EU member states.

Among other things, the European Commission proposes to allocate €9.77 million to Bulgaria, €15.93 million to Hungary, €39.33 million to Poland, €29.73 million to Romania, and €5.24 million to Slovakia.

Countries can supplement the amount with national funds by a maximum of 200%, bringing the total financial assistance to affected farmers to €300 million. Payments are expected to be made by September 30.

"The support will help the Member States bordering Ukraine to compensate partially the issues related to logistical bottlenecks resulting from the imports of certain agri-food products from Ukraine," the European Commission said.

In response, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia pledge to lift their unilateral measures banning imports of wheat, corn, rapeseed, sunflower seeds, and any other products coming from Ukraine.

The support package is expected to be approved by the five EU states at the next meeting of the special committee on the joint organization of agricultural markets, after which the decision will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force the day after publication.