Poland suggest spreading Ukrainian grain throughout EU

WARSAW/CHISINAU/UN, Apr 12 (PRIME) -- Poland has suggested considering spreading the Ukrainian grain throughout all the E.U., Polish Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Robert Telus said late on Tuesday after a meeting of the government’s anti-crisis center on an inflow of grain from Ukraine.

Telus said that he asked for support from his partners in Czechia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Slovakia.

“After the meeting, I will send a letter to my colleagues tomorrow morning so that we jointly request that the E.U. hold a thorough consideration of a draft ruling regarding duties and cancellation of duties for a new period for goods and products from Ukraine,” he said.

“We all understand that we have to help Ukraine … but we should do it together. That is why I will suggest that my colleagues consider the draft so that (the Ukrainian grain) is spread in the E.U. evenly, so that some sort of relocation happens and not only some countries bear the burden.”

The Social Democratic Party of Romania, a member of the ruling parliamentary coalition, separately asked the Foreign Ministry to initiate negotiations with Ukraine asking it to suspend exports of grain.

Thousands of Romanian farmers protested in several regions on April 7 against Ukrainian grain staying in Romania and pushing the internal grain prices down.

“The Social Democratic Party asks the Foreign Affairs Ministry to initiate diplomatic negotiations with the Ukrainian authorities on suspension of grain exports to the Romanian market,” the party said, adding that Romania should ensure transit of Ukrainian grain to other E.U. countries and to the Black Sea trade routes.

Stephane Dujarric, official representative of U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, said in a statement that a U.N. joint coordination center failed to inspect ships that partake in the Black Sea Grain Initiative on Tuesday because the parties needed more time to agree on operating priorities, and that the inspections would continue on Wednesday.

He also said that 50 ships were waiting for permission to sail to the ports of Ukraine in the framework of the grain deal.

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