(EC) sent a letter to the Polish authorities in which it informed that it would represent Poland in the dispute with Ukraine before the World Trade Organization (WTO), said EC spokeswoman Miriam Garcia Ferre. One of the EU diplomats emphasized that “represent” does not necessarily mean “defend interests”.
The European Commission will represent Poland. The situation is complex
When a country that belongs to the European Union is attacked in the WTO by a country from outside the community, the EC defends it because it thinks it is right. This time – as Garcia Ferre emphasized – the situation is complex. Currently, the EC is discussing how to resolve the grain dispute and reach a compromise. Consultations are scheduled for 90 days, after which court proceedings may begin, which officials would prefer to avoid.
Trade policy is the exclusive competence of the EU, therefore the EC will represent Poland, explained Garcia Ferre. During consultations, the EC may tell Ukraine that it considers the measures taken by the Polish authorities to be inconsistent with EU law. The debate on Ukrainian grain exports will probably take place next week – an RMF FM correspondent learned. This was requested by, among others, Poland.
A row over Ukrainian grain. Slovakia reached a compromise
The EU embargo on imports of Ukrainian grain expired on September 15. The European Commission decided that there were no grounds to maintain this solution because the market was no longer threatened by price turbulence, therefore it allowed Ukraine to export wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower to Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia and, despite the EC’s decision, three countries Poland, Slovakia and Hungary decided to extend the lockdown. Additionally, Warsaw and Budapest expanded the list of banned products. In response, Ukraine filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO).
It turns out that Slovakia reached an agreement, and the authorities in Kiev suspended the complaint against it. “The ministers agreed to create a grain trade system based on issuing and controlling permits. Until this system is launched and fully tested, the ban on the import of four goods from Ukraine will remain in force,” the Slovak Ministry of Agriculture said.
Source: Gazeta
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