WARSAW - The executive of the European Union declared on Sunday that member states cannot engage in trade unilaterally, following the announcement by Poland and Hungary that they would impose import quotas on grain and other products from Ukraine in order to safeguard their domestic food supply.
Large amounts of Ukrainian grain, which is less expensive than grain produced in the European Union, ended up lingering in Central European states due to logistical bottlenecks after Russia's invasion closed certain Black Sea ports, hurting pricing and sales for nearby farmers.
In an election year, the matter has caused political problems for Poland's ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party since it has enraged residents in rural areas, where PiS support is often high.
A representative for the European Commission stated via email, "We are aware of Poland and Hungary's announcements regarding the embargo on imports of grain and other agricultural products from Ukraine.
"In this context, it is crucial to emphasize that the EU alone has exclusive jurisdiction over trade policy, making unilateral actions unacceptable."
The statement further stated that "in such trying times, it is crucial to coordinate and align all decisions within the EU."
Piotr Muller, a spokesman for the Polish government, told the state-run news agency PAP that the ban was feasible because of a security clause and that the administration was in continual communication with the European Commission about the matter.
Both Poland and Hungary have had funding delayed due to worries about the rule of law because of their long-running disputes with Brussels over matters like judicial independence, media freedoms, and LGBT rights.
Mykola Solsky, the Ukrainian minister of agriculture, spoke with Istvan Nagy, his Hungarian counterpart, on Sunday and stressed that taking decisions alone was unacceptable, according to a statement from the Ukrainian farm ministry. It stated that the two agreed to speak again shortly.
The ministry declared on Saturday that the Polish embargo was in conflict with current bilateral export agreements and demanded negotiations to resolve the matter.
Yavor Gechev, Bulgaria's minister of agriculture, said on Sunday that the nation was also thinking about imposing a ban on Ukrainian grain imports.
The development and technology minister announced on Sunday that the Polish ban, which went into force on Saturday evening, will also apply to the movement of these products through the nation.
Waldemar Buda stated on Twitter that "the ban is full, including the ban on transit through Poland," adding that discussions with Ukraine would be made to develop a system that assures commodities only transit through Poland and do not wind up on the local market.
The transit agreement will be the main topic of discussion when Ukrainian and Polish ministers meet on Monday in Poland, according to the state-run Ukrinform news agency.
According to a report from Sunday, Poland's Minister of Agriculture Robert Telus said the embargo was required to "open the eyes of the EU to the fact that further decisions are needed that will allow products from Ukraine to go deep into Europe, and not stay in Poland."
The prohibition is scheduled to end on June 30, according to the finance ministry.
Ukraine typically exports the majority of its agricultural products, particularly grain, through its Black Sea ports, which were opened in July in accordance with a deal between Ukraine, Turkey, Russia, and the UN.
The agreement is set to expire on May 18, and Moscow hinted last week that it would not be renewed unless the West lifts barriers to Russian grain and fertilizer exports.
According to the Ukrainian ministry, every month 3 million tonnes of grain leave Ukraine via the Black Sea grain corridor, but only 200,000 tonnes are transported to European ports via Polish soil.
In addition to grain, vegetable oil, sugar, eggs, meat, and other things, Solsky estimated that 500,000 to 700,000 tonnes of diverse agricultural products pass the Polish border each month.