On Tuesday, the Polish government urged the European Union to extend the embargo on imports of Ukrainian grain beyond the upcoming end-of-week deadline to safeguard Polish farmers.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stated that he has formally requested the European Commission, the executive body of the EU, to prolong the prohibition on Ukrainian corn, wheat, sunflower, and rapeseed imports. He emphasized that if the extension is not granted, Poland will take unilateral action because they cannot permit a market deregulation.
Addressing farmers in Kosow Lacki, situated in Poland’s eastern farming region, Morawiecki underscored the importance of the October 15 parliamentary elections for the future of Poland’s agriculture. The ruling conservative Law and Justice party aims to attract farmer voters as part of its campaign.
Poland, along with Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania, acting under the auspices of the European Union, had previously imposed an embargo on these four Ukrainian grains from April until September 15. This measure was taken to prevent an oversupply in their domestic markets that would harm their own farmers. Only the transit of sealed goods was permitted to help Ukraine export its produce abroad due to Russia’s blockage of its usual export routes.
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Earlier in the day, Morawiecki posted on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, declaring, “Poland will not allow Ukrainian grain to flood our markets.” He reaffirmed that regardless of the decisions made in Brussels, Poland would not open its borders, especially as the ruling Law and Justice party aspires to secure an unprecedented third term in the upcoming elections.
The issue was to be discussed by EU commissioners and separately by the European Parliament on Tuesday. EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski, who is Poland’s former agriculture minister, expressed efforts to have the embargo extended.
Some leaders of Polish farm groups, including Michal Kolodziejczak, an opposition candidate in the October 15 elections, were set to participate in the EU Parliament debate.
While Poland has been providing military and humanitarian assistance to neighboring Ukraine in its struggle against Russia’s invasion, farmer protests have prompted Warsaw to remain firm in banning Ukrainian agricultural product imports.
Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of the ruling party and deputy prime minister, highlighted that while Poland is committed to supporting Ukraine during the conflict and reconstruction, they must also consider the well-being of their citizens, agriculture, and countryside.
