The gathering aims to bring together leaders of various interest groups to discuss pressing concerns, including the impact of trade with Ukraine on the local market.
The meeting, and the discussions surrounding it, underscore the delicate balance Poland seeks to maintain: supporting Ukraine in its time of grave need while safeguarding its own agricultural sector from the unintended consequences of international solidarity.
Tusk's announcement highlights the immediate disbursement of funds from the National Recovery Plan, sourced from the European Union's Recovery and Resilience Facility, intended to support Polish farmers and food producers.
An initial tranche of EUR 1.5 billion out of EUR 6 billion is expected to be released possibly as soon as Thursday, targeting small-scale food producers and farms in Poland.
Speaking at a news conference in Warsaw on Wednesday, Tusk emphasized Poland's opposition to the European Commission's proposed agricultural import limits from Ukraine, advocating for more restrictive measures that reflect prewar trade levels to protect Polish producers.
He reiterated the need for a long-term solution that balances support for Ukraine with the protection of Poland's agricultural market and its farmers.
The prime minister's remarks also touched on Poland's own surplus grain issue, with over 9 million tons of excess stock contributing to the market's challenges.
Tusk mentioned ongoing discussions for potential subsidies and measures to facilitate the sale of Polish grain, aiming to make it more competitively priced against Ukrainian imports.
A significant aspect of the summit will be a discussion on the potential full closure of the trade border with Ukraine, a move Tusk described as "temporary and painful" for both nations.
This comes in the backdrop of Poland's stance as a staunch supporter of Ukraine in light of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
However, Tusk underscored the strain on Poland due to the EU's decision on free trade with Ukraine, which has led to cheaper agricultural products entering the Polish market.
Further, Tusk highlighted the broader implications of the European Green Deal on Poland's agricultural sector, suggesting a reevaluation of its terms to ensure that Poland does not lose more than it gains from its commitments, including the direct subsidies critical to the farming community.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP, IAR