EU Parliament approves agreement on food imports from Ukraine with restrictions
Photo: The European Parliament approved the agreement with Ukraine (Getty Images)
The European Parliament has approved a one-year extension of duty-free trade for Ukrainian agricultural products while imposing new import restrictions to appease EU protesters, Reuters reports.
The document was approved by 428 votes, 131 against 44 abstentions. The extension will now apply from June 6.
According to EU diplomats, the restrictions mean that Ukraine will receive €331 million less from exports to the EU than in 2023.
What could have been a routine extension, originally proposed in January, turned into a protracted debate over new restrictions as protests by EU farmers grew, especially in Poland.
The European Commission's initial proposal stipulated that tariffs would take effect on poultry, eggs, and sugar if imports exceeded the average level of 2022 and 2023.
EU lawmakers added oats, cereals, corn, and honey to the list, while France and Poland insisted that the calculation period include 2021, the year before Russia's invasion when imports were lower due to duties.
As a result, a compromise was reached that includes only the second half of 2021.
This will be the last revision. The EU and Ukraine intend to conclude a long-term agreement starting in June 2025.
