EU plans to hike customs duties on Russian grain - von der Leyen

BRUSSELS. March 22 (Interfax) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced the commission's proposal to raise customs duties on Russian grain imports to the European Union.

"There are several good reasons for making this proposal. It will prevent Russian grain from destabilizing the EU market in these products," von der Leyen said at a press conference in Brussels on Thursday evening after the first day of the EU summit, where support for Ukraine was among the central issues.

"It will stop Russia from using the revenues from the export of these goods to the European Union," she said, adding that the events in Ukraine impose new obligations on the EU.

The idea is "to increase tariffs on Russian and Belarusian imports of cereals, oil seeds and derived products," von der Leyen said.

Alexander De Croo, the prime minister of Belgium, which holds the Council of the EU presidency, told journalists that EU leaders would exchange views on this matter during the second day of the summit on Friday.