EU to discuss Ukraine grain ban this week – official

A senior EU official said Monday that EU envoys in Brussels will debate Poland and Hungary’s restriction on Ukrainian grain and food imports this week.

The senior EU source, speaking anonymously, said low worldwide pricing and demand kept the grain in the bloc rather than selling it. The oversupply hurt Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party in an election year.

“We expect Poland and Hungary to offer some explanation and there will also be reaction by the European Commision,” said the official, adding that Slovakia and Romania discussed the issue at the recent summit of EU country leaders.

We expect the Commission to propose a solution. We’ll try in the next weeks and months.”

At negotiations in Warsaw on Monday, Ukraine’s agricultural minister said Kyiv sought to reopen food and grain transit via Poland as a first step.