European Commission to allocate 100 mln euros to EU farmers affected by Ukrainian grain exports

BRUSSELS. April 19 (Interfax) - The European Commission is aware of the situation facing farmers from East European countries which are experiencing an inflow of agricultural products from Ukraine, and will provide 100 million euros in assistance to them, European Commission spokesperson Dana Spinant said.

Spinant said at a press briefing in Brussels on Wednesday that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has responded to a joint letter sent in late March by the governments of Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, in which they voiced concern about the Ukrainian grain accumulating in their countries.

In her letter, the European Commission president stressed that she was fully aware of the concern expressed about the increase in imports of some Ukrainian agricultural products to the European market, and said that it was necessary to work out a joint approach in line with the principles of Europe's common market and customs union to resolve these problems, Spinant said.

Von der Leyen has presented three proposals. They primarily deal with assistance to agricultural producers affected by the situation, the spokesperson said. An assistance package of 56.3 million euros has already been approved for farmers hardest hit by the situation, and the European Commission is now working on a second package of financial support amounting to 100 million euros, she said.

Second, the European Commission will take preventive measures with regard to trade rules applied to certain categories of crops and other products, such as rapeseed, sunflowers, corn and wheat, Spinant said.

Third, the European Commission is starting to analyze the situation with regard to other "sensitive products."

European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis will discuss these proposals and further steps with ministers from the five countries that signed the letter on Wednesday, Spinant said. He will also hold a discussion with Ukrainian colleagues on the same day.

The European Commission is committed to its obligations to help Ukraine export its goods, including agricultural products, Spinant said, describing it as important assistance for the Ukrainian economy. The European Commission wants these products to reach the world market where they are needed, thus contributing to food security, she said. The European Commission also stands ready to honor its obligations to support European farmers, she added.