European Parliament committee approves extension of trade liberalization with Ukraine for another year, to be followed by vote in plenary session

MOSCOW. April 27 (Interfax) - The European Parliament's Committee on International Trade has given its approval for a one-year extension of the suspension of import duties on Ukrainian exports to the European Union to support the country's economy.

The vote took place at a committee meeting in Brussels on Thursday, Ukrainian media reported.

The MEPs adopted the committee's draft report prepared by Sandra Kalniete (European People's Party Group, Latvia), a standing rapporteur on Ukraine.

The draft report is planned to be put to a vote by all MEPs at a plenary session on May 8-11. The measure will be applied the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU, the European Parliament press service told the Ukrainian media.

"I strongly support renewing the trade-liberalisation measures that currently help ensure Ukrainian continuity and stability of trade. These measures are pivotal to strengthening Ukraine's resilience in the present and with an eye toward the future, as we work to advance Ukraine's gradual integration in the EU internal market. Our solidarity with Ukraine is consistent, transparent, and rock-solid, which has been further reinforced by Ukraine's EU candidate status. Ukraine's future is in the European Union," Kalniete said, commenting on the decision.

The draft report, in particular, provides for the suspension of tariffs on fruits and vegetables, which are subject to the entry price system, as well as agricultural products and processed agricultural products, which are subject to tariff-rate quotas. Industrial goods are subject to zero duties from January 1, 2023 in accordance with the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, so they are not included in the new proposal.

However, this decision is also expected to be endorsed this Friday by the ambassadors-permanent representatives of the EU member states, who are trying to find a solution to the problematic issue of the ban on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products by the five EU countries, namely, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. The issue is caused by amassing in these countries of Ukrainian agricultural products intended for further import. In this regard, on April 19, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed imposing a temporary ban on imports of corn, wheat, rapeseed, sunflower seeds and sunflower oil to these countries until June 5. Additionally, a financial compensation of 100 million euros is envisaged for these countries.