The European Union’s executive Commission has approved a EUR 30 million aid package for Polish farmers to compensate for losses incurred due to an influx of Ukrainian grain. This announcement was made by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in a Facebook post. The prime minister stated that Poland will receive the financial compensation package from the EU, along with the same amount paid out from the national budget, amounting to a total of around PLN 280 million (EUR 59.9 million).
The prime minister revealed that he and five other prime ministers had jointly sent a letter to the European Commission, demanding immediate action against the influx of Ukrainian grain. The EU responded to this by approving a EUR 56 million aid package for farmers in countries bordering Ukraine, which includes EUR 30 million for Poland. However, the Polish government deemed this assistance as “insufficient” and plans to push for further financial compensation from the EU for the losses caused by the influx of Ukrainian grain.
European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen had previously signaled this move by stating that front-line countries helping the most with the Solidarity Lanes should not suffer from disadvantages. She had also highlighted the great success of the Solidarity Lanes in enabling Ukraine to export large quantities of grain and other agricultural products. However, this has also led to an increase in the amount of grain coming into the European market, which has had an impact on the prices.
As a result, the EU has mobilized over EUR 56 million from the Emergency Agricultural Reserve as a first step to help farmers in the front-line states. Von der Leyen stated that this was not enough and that the Commission would look into increasing this amount for the affected farmers.
The EU’s Agriculture Commissioner, Janusz Wojciechowski, who is Polish, welcomed the first package of support measures worth EUR 56.3 million for Bulgarian, Polish, and Romanian farmers that can be coupled with national financing up to 100 percent. He also stated that the second package of support measures worth EUR 75 million for five countries, including around EUR 30 million for Poland, is underway.
European Commission spokeswoman Miriam Garcia Ferrer stated on Thursday that Brussels does not rule out restoring tariffs for Ukrainian imports after assessing their impact on the EU’s common market. This could be a further measure to curb the influx of Ukrainian grain into Poland.
In conclusion, the EU has approved a EUR 30 million aid package for Polish farmers as compensation for losses caused by an influx of Ukrainian grain. The Polish government regards this assistance as insufficient and plans to push for further financial compensation from the EU. The EU has also mobilized over EUR 56 million from the Emergency Agricultural Reserve as a first step to help farmers in the front-line states and is looking into increasing this amount. Additionally, the EU does not rule out restoring tariffs for Ukrainian imports after assessing their impact on the EU’s common market.