The three European institutions reached a new compromise yesterday to extend trade measures for Ukraine, by adding half a year more to the reference period, failing to include wheat and barley. This new compromise, also voted on today in the INTA Committee, and that had the majority support of the MEPs, is now heading for the final vote in the European Parliament Plenary later this month.
The new trialogue outcome reaffirms the Belgian Presidency proposal to extend the reference period for the triggering of safeguard measures with the inclusion of the second half of year 2021 as a solution for the concerns raised by many Member States to the initial trialogue outcome. This outcome is a half-response, limited in terms of potential additional relief for our producers and manufacturers.
Especially since without the inclusion of common wheat and barley in the automatic triggering of the safeguard measures it remains unsustainable from farmers and manufacturers’ point of view. Principally because this outcome does not reflect the initial outcome of the vote in the European Parliament Plenary on 13th of March.
With the clock ticking, there is an understandable need to find a solution before the expiry of current temporary measures and the Parliamentary break. The attention now shifts to the renegotiation of the association agreement with Ukraine, where we call for better protection of the position of our producers and manufacturers and respect of their standards by Ukrainian producers and processors, due to potential long-term effects.
In the face of Russia’s aggression, solidarity with Ukrainian farmers remains essential. One cannot forget, looking back at the numbers, that with this ATM, the volumes exported to Europe remain substantial. This solidarity cannot rest solely on the shoulders of farmers, and the example of this ATM should collectively force us to better anticipate further measures to integrate Ukraine.
On behalf of the following associations:
AVEC – Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade in the EU countries
CEFS – European Association of Sugar Manufacturers
CEPM – European Confederation of Maize Production
CIBE – International Confederation of European Beet Growers
COPA-COGECA – The united voice of farmers and their cooperatives in the European Union
EUWEP – European Union of Wholesale with Eggs, Egg Products, Poultry and Game
Fonte: Copa Cogeca
