Romania won't ban imports of Ukrainian grain, awaits EU decision

Romania will not unilaterally ban imports of Ukrainian grain and will wait for the European Commission to introduce measures aimed at helping farmers in Central and Eastern Europe.

This was stated by Agriculture Minister Petre Dea, Reuters reports.

"I think we need to wait ... to see what the European Commission decides, and then we will meet again to establish long-term rules because Romania and Ukraine are large grain-producing countries," Dea said after meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Mykola Solsky in Bucharest.

However, Romania and Ukraine will hold weekly consultations on expected grain volumes in an effort to limit imports, the minister added.

Romania is the only one of the five Central and Eastern European countries that have not banned imports of Ukrainian grain but have tightened controls at border crossings.

According to Solsky, it is clear that the current situation requires "quick decisions." "We understand that these decisions should be comfortable for Romanian farmers and... we are waiting for the decision of the European Commission," he said.

Author - Olena Madiak, 21/04/2023