Polish politician explains whether Ukrainian grain has unbalanced Polish market

He told this on Espreso TV.

"Imports of Ukrainian grain did not affect the imbalance of the Polish market, which has been proven. The Minister of Agriculture of Poland explained it perfectly at the parliamentary forum. And we should pay him tribute for saying that it did not affect the market. Just like the statements that the Polish market is being flooded with Ukrainian raspberries and honey, it was a lie out of the blue," the politician stressed.

Miroslaw Czech noted that from his parliamentary experience, he understands that the approach of farmers and their representatives is as follows: the money we have and have been promised is our income, and what we do not have, we can earn additionally through political pressure. This is what happened with wheat.

"In the middle of last year, prices for agricultural products went up, skyrocketed due to the actions of the Russian Federation and the blocking of Ukrainian ports. And the then Polish Minister of Agriculture said that prices would continue to rise. And large Polish farmers and agricultural producers kept wheat in their bins, but instead of rising, prices fell. And they fell very significantly. A very simple way was found to deal with this - to say that Ukrainian grain was to blame, which in fact did not destabilise or affect the Polish market in large quantities. The opposition tried to use this to hit the ruling forces, because the rural electorate is 38% of Polish citizens who are active and vote. And a very intense struggle began. Unfortunately, we can say that the Polish authorities could not withstand the blow of the opposition, which did not stop exploiting this topic. And licensing began. That's all," Czech explained.

Ban on imports of agricultural products from Ukraine

On February 2, Polish farmers began blocking checkpoints on the border with Ukraine. They were outraged that the uncontrolled inflow of Ukrainian grain to Poland had caused prices for their products to plummet. Local farmers argue that Ukrainian grain should have been transported through Poland only to ports, but it ended up on the Polish market. 

On February 16 and 17, Polish farmers resumed protests on the border with Ukraine.

On March 29, Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki said that Poland promised to introduce rules that would limit the inflow of Ukrainian grain to the country, explaining that it could destabilize the import market.

On April 7, Ukraine agreed to stop exporting grain to Poland, and on April 15, the country approved a ban on the import of Ukrainian grain and other food products to Poland.

Later, оn April 15, Poland approved a ban on the import of Ukrainian grain and other food products to Poland. The government emphasized that this decision does not change the country's position on support and friendship with Ukraine.

In Romania, farmers are demanding a ban on grain imports and transit from Ukraine, threatening a nationwide protest.

On April 16, media reported that Bulgaria was also considering refusing to import Ukrainian grain, after Hungary and Poland had already made this decision.

On the same day, a spokesman for the European Commission said that unilateral actions by EU member states on trade were unacceptable.

On April 18, it became known that Poland would receive EUR 30 million in aid from the EU amid the crisis with Ukrainian grain. 

After that, Warsaw decided to unblock the transit of Ukrainian agricultural products to European ports on April 21.

On April 17, Slovakia became the third EU country to ban imports of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products.

On April 19, Hungary banned the import of 25 types of agricultural products from Ukraine. The ban on the import of grain, flour, honey, oil and meat from Ukraine to Hungary will last until June 30 this year.

On April 29, the European Commission agreed with Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia on the transit of food produced in Ukraine through their territory.

On May 12, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary called on the European Commission to extend the embargo on agricultural products from Ukraine until the end of the year.

In late May, it was reported that four EU countries would insist on extending grain import restrictions from Ukraine until October. At the same time, Hungary wants to extend the restrictions until 2024.  

Vitaliy Kulyk, Director of the Center for Researching Civil Society Problems, believes that Ukraine is responsible for the oversaturation of the Eastern European market with agricultural products.

On July 19, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that Poland and 4 other EU countries would not open the border with Ukraine for grain products after September 15, if the European Commission's moratorium on Ukrainian grain imports expires then.

On August 3, Polish Agriculture Minister Robert Telus said that the country would close the border to Ukrainian grain after September 15.