Ukraine proposes 'mutual understanding plan' to unblock border with Poland – Shmyhal
Ukraine proposes a "mutual understanding plan" of five steps to unblock the border with Poland, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal has said.
"We propose a Ukrainian plan for unblocking the border. The Plan of Mutual Understanding. Our plan consists of five steps. Step one. Ukraine agrees to the restrictions proposed by the European Commission on our agricultural exports. These are automatic protective measures presented as part of the European Commission's decision with a proposal to continue duty-free trade between the EU and Ukraine. We are talking, in particular, about restrictions on poultry meat, eggs, sugar," he said on the border with Poland on Friday.
The prime minister noted that Ukraine will export these goods to the EU without quotas and duties in volumes no greater than the average in 2022 and 2023, and if it starts to export more, restrictions will return.
Ukraine is also ready to continue the mechanism for verifying the export of grain, corn, sunflower and rapeseed, that is, without the permission of Poland, these four groups of goods will not enter the Polish market.
The second step, according to the prime minister, is that Ukraine will send an appeal to the European Commission with a proposal to conduct urgent screening of clusters 4 and 5, which include agricultural policy and transport.
"This is necessary in order to once and for all remove manipulations on the quality of our agricultural products, as well as regarding whether the support for our farmers meets the standards of the World Trade Organization. We say: let's do this quickly. Let's start on March 4," he said.
At the same time, according to Shmyhal, Ukraine's principled position is the complete liberalization of trade with the EU.
"Step three. We propose that the Polish government accept a joint appeal to the European Commission calling on it to stop Russian agricultural exports to the EU," the prime minister said.
Ukraine also intends to appeal to the European Commission with a proposal to consider additional restrictions and enhanced monitoring of agricultural imports from third countries to the EU, as well as to launch joint controls at the border between Ukraine and the EU.
"Step four. We propose to create a Tripartite Headquarters: Ukraine, Poland, the European Commission, co-chaired by the agriculture ministers of Ukraine, Poland and a representative of the European Commission. We will join the work of this headquarters with Ukrainian and Polish agricultural associations. We must work around the clock to quickly resolve all misunderstandings," Shmyhal said.
According to the prime minister, since the blockade of the border on the side of Poland has already gone beyond the blockade of grain, the approach to the free passage of ammunition and humanitarian aid across the border should be extended to fuel which is critically needed by Ukraine. This is the fifth step.