If the EU does not act, Hungary will extend the ban on Ukrainian grain imports after September 15 under national competence.Continue reading
Agriculture Minister István Nagy held a press conference after the Council of Agriculture Ministers’ meeting in Brussels. He informed journalists that member states bordering Ukraine could not rely on the European Commission to deal with market disruptions caused by increased Ukrainian imports.
In response, the European Comission is considering legal action against Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia for measures taken under national jurisdiction. Hungary has already received a letter indicating this potential of legal recourse, according to the minister.
The threat arises from large Ukrainian farms, primarily owned by Western (the U.S. has acquired 17 million hectares of land from Ukraine) or Saudi Arabian capital. These farms represent a challenge to the EU’s internal market as
they are not bound by the strict production rules
applicable to member states. Consequently, any EU funding would not benefit Ukraine but would instead go to companies controlling Ukrainian land, such as Monsanto, Cargill, or DuPont.
On the agricultural consequences of Ukraine’s accession, István Nagy said that
there should be a quota and sensitive products should not enter the European Union duty-free”.
Austria has aligned with Hungary on this matter, and there has been a notable shift in the French stance, marking a significant step forward.
Via Magyar Nemzet / MTI; Featured Image: Facebook / Nagy István