Poland in favor of EU-level decision to ban grain imports from Russia and Belarus

VILNIUS. March 4 (Interfax/BNS) - The European Union should make a joint decision to ban the import of Russian and Belarusian grain, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

"I am convinced that a joint European solution will be much more effective than decisions taken by individual countries. (...) I would like us, together as the EU, to decide on sanctions against Russian and Belarusian agricultural products," he said at a press conference in Vilnius on Monday.

He said that the head of the Polish parliament will be initiating a decision on sanctions against agricultural products from the Russian Federation and Belarus on Monday.

"Today I will address the Marshal of the Polish Sejm regarding the decision of the Polish Sejm to apply sanctions against Russian agricultural products and Belarusian agricultural products," Tusk said.

Tightening sanctions is important, in part, to ensure the security of the agricultural market in Poland and Europe as a whole, he said.

As previously reported, the European market is currently suffering from an influx of cheap food from Ukraine, which is due to the duty-free trade arrangement between Ukraine and the EU introduced in 2022 (and valid through June 2024). This has caused sharp dissatisfaction among farmers. Poland and several other countries in Eastern Europe see themselves as the most affected by this problem.

Latvia in temporarily banned the import of Russian and Belarusian agricultural products and feed in February. This ban will last through mid-2025, but can be extended if necessary. Latvia believes that its initiative complements the general sanctions policy of the European Union.

Lithuania is also considering restrictive measures. The Lithuanian Ministry of Agriculture plans to introduce restrictions on the import of grain from Russia, while a complete ban on its import is not being considered.