In Brussels
The Twenty-Seven gave the green light on Friday to the renewal, until June 2024, of the suspension of customs duties on all Ukrainian products imported into the EU.
This question was not put to a formal vote, but no Member State opposed it.
The European Parliament must also validate this agreement, during a vote scheduled for May.
The suspension of customs duties had been implemented in June 2022 to support Ukraine's economy.
If it confirms European support for Ukraine, Friday's green light does nothing to resolve the tensions currently prevailing in the EU over Ukrainian cereal imports.
Poland, then Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria recently took the decision to unilaterally ban imports of grain and other Ukrainian agricultural products, on the grounds that they penalize their national farmers, because of the huge accumulated stocks.
The Commission has proposed to these Member States to stop the flow of maize, wheat, sunflower and rapeseed from Ukraine until June 30, except for products to be re-exported to other countries.
An envelope of 100 million euros has also been put on the table to help producers in these countries.
This sum would be added to the 56,
3 million granted at the end of March from the crisis reserve of the common agricultural policy.
Discussions are continuing.
Some member states are concerned about the generosity of the EU executive.
“The crisis reserve cannot be extended
”, warns an EU diplomat, pointing to the high temperatures recorded in recent days in Spain and the historic drought that Europe is currently experiencing.