EU ambassadors approve extension of trade liberalization with Ukraine

"EU ambassadors have reached a new compromise on expanding trade measures for Ukraine, providing a balanced approach between supporting Ukraine and protecting EU agricultural markets," the presidency's statement said.

It is clarified that the initiative will now be presented to the European Parliament "in view of a swift agreement."

As Radio Liberty reports, citing an unnamed official, EU ambassadors approved the extension of trade liberalization with Ukraine on the condition that quotas and tariffs under the safeguard mechanism would be introduced taking into account import volumes not only in 2022 and 2023 but also in 2021.

Background

Last week the European Parliament and the European Council reached a preliminary agreement to extend trade liberalization with Ukraine until June 5, 2025.

The initiative included a safeguard mechanism that includes emergency brakes for particularly sensitive agricultural products, such as poultry meat, eggs, sugar, oats, maize, cereals, and honey.

According to France and Poland, such measures are insufficient to satisfy European farmers. Therefore, they proposed to strengthen the restrictions.