After a tough struggle, the EU and Poland reached an agreement in April to continue allowing the export of grain from Ukraine. But this compromise is expiring – and Poland is once again resorting to threatening behavior.
A campaign ad by Mateusz Morawiecki, the Polish Prime Minister, said: “When it came to helping our neighbors, we opened our hearts and homes. That’s how Poles are.” However, it also goes on to say: “But if there is a fight for Polish interests, only the PiS government guarantees that the interests of our farmers will be defended.”
A political balancing act. In the spring, Polish farmers protested against the import of Ukrainian grain and corn because the imports had depressed domestic prices. At the same time, support for Ukraine has de facto been part of Poland’s raison d’être, at least since the Russian attack.
Because the usual export routes for Ukrainian agricultural products across the Black Sea are blocked by Russia, the EU set up so-called solidarity corridors, i.e. abolished tariffs for imports into the EU, on the assumption that the grain crosses the EU countries in transit and then in its destination countries in Africa. Agricultural products should therefore pass through Poland, but not reach the market there. Because that didn’t work, Poland unilaterally imposed a complete import ban in April.
EU regulation expires
Agriculture Minister Robert Telus once again emphasized how serious Warsaw is about this on Wednesday: “If we don’t find regulations for this today, Poland will certainly not agree to Ukraine’s accession to the EU. We have to find regulations today, because we will have to deal with the Ukrainian ones for a long time products have to live.”
A solution was found in the spring: Together with other East Central European countries, Poland successfully pushed for an import regulation in Brussels that provides for the transit, but not the import, of the products.
However, the regulation is now expiring. The Polish government is demanding that it be extended. Otherwise, the borders will be closed again independently, Morawiecki explained this week. “We are not waiting for approval from Berlin and Brussels officials when it comes to defending Polish interests, the security of Polish families and Polish farmers,” said the Prime Minister: “Ukraine must understand that Poland’s security is just as important as theirs Security.”
“Grain has flooded us”
Most Polish opposition parties are also calling for an extension of the EU import regulations, but accuse the government in Warsaw of having ignored the problem for a long time and only now – during the election campaign – waking up.
Morawiecki did say he would “defend Poland against Ukrainian grain,” says Michał Kołodziejczak, the leader of the agricultural party AgroUnia. But “this grain is already with us, it has flooded us.” A year and a half ago, the then Minister of Agriculture claimed that Poland had nothing to be afraid of. “We should have reacted back then, not now with a video,” criticizes Kołodziejczak.
There will be elections in Poland on October 15th and farmers are an important voter group for many Polish parties. More important than Ukraine, certainly more important than the relationship with the EU Commission.