Restrictions on Ukrainian grain brought order to EU - EU commissioner for agriculture

MOSCOW. Sept 8 (Interfax) - All arguments in favor of the extension of the ban on export of grain from Ukraine have been submitted for discussion of the European Commission, Poland is expecting a positive decision, because the restrictions brought order to grain trade in the European Union, EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski said.

According to Ukrainian media outlets, he said that the understanding of the need to extend the ban on import of Ukrainian grain to the frontline countries is growing within the European Commission.

"We're approaching the adoption of a positive decision on this issue. All arguments in favor of the extension of the ban are on the table. I am deeply convinced that it will happen," he said in an interview with the Polish media outlet pap.pl.

The restrictions "brought order to grain trade in the EU," Wojciechowski said.

Commenting on Poland's intention to introduce a unilateral ban if the restrictions on import of Ukrainian grain are not extended, he said that it "is one of the arguments in favor of extending the ban and preventing chaos emerging from unilateral bans imposed by Poland or any other member states."

Answering a question about Bulgaria's wish to exclude sunflower seeds from the list of grains subject to the ban, the European commissioner said that if the ban is extended, it will apply to the five countries, namely, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania, and the same crops as before - wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower.

On June 5, the European Commission extended the ban on export of four crops - wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower, - from Ukraine to Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia until September 15. At the same time, transit of these goods via the five countries remains permitted.