Ukraine, Slovakia discuss mechanism for licensing Ukrainian agricultural produce

MOSCOW. Oct 24 (Interfax) - Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Nikolai Solsky and Slovak Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Jozef Bires have discussed a mechanism for licensing Ukrainian agricultural produce at a meeting of the Council of the European Union's Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AgriFish) held in Luxembourg on October 23-24, Ukrainian media have reported with reference to the Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry.

Bires said the Slovak government is reviewing Ukraine's action plan for agricultural exports, including technical capabilities for introducing a licensing mechanism.

Solsky thanked Bires for support Slovakia has provided to Ukraine over the past two years.

The two ministers agreed to coordinate the situation and maintain constructive relations between their countries.

In reviewing Bires's work in the office over the past five months, the Slovak Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry said on October 20 that the crisis in Ukraine and the blocking of export routes via the Black Sea have threatened the Slovak market with cheap Ukrainian grain imports and put Slovak farmers in a disadvantageous situation. The Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry would earmark 15.72 million euros for extraordinary support to local wheat producers by the end of 2023.

Minister Bires has also taken part in negotiations on a common European decision to guarantee that Ukrainian agricultural produce would not end up on the Slovak market, as "this would make the sale of domestic produce impossible."

At his initiative, the Slovak government decided on September 16, 2023 to unilaterally extend the ban on imports of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower.

"This ban is aimed at protecting our producers," the Slovak ministry said.

Va ek

(Our editorial staff can be reached at eng.editors@interfax.ru) =