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Poland calls for EU support to Ukraine, curbs on food imports

15.01.2024 19:30
Poland is reaffirming its support for Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion, while at the same time cautioning against an excessive influx of Ukrainian agrifood products into the European Union, the Polish farm minister has said. 
Polish Farm Minister Czesław Siekierski (second from right) holds a video conference with the Vice-President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis, in Warsaw, on Monday, January 15, 2024.
Polish Farm Minister Czesław Siekierski (second from right) holds a video conference with the Vice-President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis, in Warsaw, on Monday, January 15, 2024. X/Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Czesław Siekierski made the statement during a video conference with Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice-President of the EU's executive Commission, on Monday, public broadcaster Polish Radio's polskieradio24.pl website reported.

Poland's minister for development and technology, Krzysztof Hetman, also took part in the talks, according to officials. 

A spokesman for the EC relayed Poland's stance to reporters in Brussels, adding that further talks would follow, polskieradio24.pl reported.

Due to Poland's concerns over the imports of such products as sugars, poultry meat and eggs, the Commission has postponed until next week the extension until 2025 of the EU-Ukraine free trade agreement, according to news outlets.

After Monday's video call with Polish ministers, Dombrovskis, who is the EC's vice-president responsible for trade, said on the X social media platform it had been a "useful meeting on EU support to Ukraine, including trade measures."

He declared the Commission would "continue to support Ukraine's economy while being mindful of concerns of Polish farmers in relation to Ukrainian agri-food imports."

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk is expected to visit Kyiv "in the coming days" for talks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, including on trade, polskieradio24.pl reported.

Monday is day 691 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.

Source: polskieradio24.pl, PAP, bankier.pl