The government of Poland opposes the extension of duty-free preferences for Ukraine in the Free Trade Agreement with Ukraine for 2024-2025, which the European Commission is expected to extend by its decision from June 5 for another year.
This information is stated in the letter from the Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Czesław Siekierski, to the European Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, as reported by the Polish outlet RMF24.
The letter emphasizes that the full liberalization of trade between the EU and Ukraine introduced after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion had "consequences different from what was expected." It points out that problems with excessive imports "apply not only to cereals but also to sugar, poultry meat, eggs, soft fruits (especially frozen raspberries), apple concentrate." The Polish minister noted that, for example, sugar imports from Ukraine have increased twelvefold during this time.
Sekersky suggested that negotiations with Ukraine should begin on "gradual mutual liberalization accompanied by the gradual adaptation of Ukrainian agriculture to EU standards and legislation." The Polish minister expressed support for excluding provisions on sugar and poultry meat from the future European Commission decision on free trade with Ukraine, as well as the establishment of enhanced protective measures.
At the same time, he declared Poland's readiness to return to discussions in the format of "European Commission, Ukraine, neighboring countries with Ukraine" to find more effective mechanisms for cooperation. The previous government, led by Mateusz Morawiecki, had refused cooperation in this format after the EU did not agree to extend the European ban on the import of Ukrainian cereals from September 15.
The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski of Poland, also threatened to block the European Commission's decision to extend the Free Trade Agreement with Ukraine for 2024-2025 if his proposals for trade restrictions for Kyiv are not taken into account. In a letter to Dombrovskis and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Wojciechowski insists that he will not support the decision if protective mechanisms for the EU internal market against destabilization from excessive inflow of Ukrainian products are not included. In addition to providing mechanisms, as in the case of blocking Ukrainian cereals by the EU, the European Commissioner insists on introducing quotas for the import of sugar and poultry meat from Ukraine.
