France joined Poland in calling on the European Commission to maintain restrictions on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products. Paris threatened to block further negotiations on the extension of EU free trade with Ukraine.
As reported by the Politico daily, citing three European diplomats, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk were to reach an agreement on this matter at the Weimar Triangle summit last week. As a result of these talks, France supported Poland’s request to extend restrictions on the import of agricultural products from Ukraine, which is a condition for both countries to extend the EU agreement with Ukraine on duty-free trade. France may torpedo further talks if these demands are not met, says the European daily.
Today, negotiations
Key negotiations on extending the free trade agreement between the EU and Ukraine for another year at EU level are to take place in Brussels this evening. From the very beginning, Poland has demanded the maintenance of import limits for sugar, poultry and eggs, while also postulating a change in the reference dates that are to determine import thresholds. The point is that the reference point should be the period before the start of the war in Ukraine and the initiation of duty-free trade, i.e. when the volume of imports was significantly lower.
French voice
As commentators note, France’s support means a lot for Poland on the EU forum, although it does not decide the case. In the previous vote, apart from Poland, only Hungary and Slovakia supported restrictions on imports from Ukraine, while Bulgaria abstained from voting. We will see whether France’s position will give strength to the arguments of the frontline countries. Perhaps more important in this situation is the French threat to “derail” further negotiations of the disputed agreement.
The fact is, however, that Macron, like Tusk, has a big problem with farmers. Protests in France have flared up with new force and pose a threat to the current government. French beet growers have already called for the suspension of sugar imports more than once, so they will certainly appreciate Macron’s gesture.
Taking from Ukraine?
According to the European Commission, the changes to the trade agreement proposed by Poland and its allies would cost Ukraine approximately EUR 1.2 billion in revenues. Taking this money away from the fighting Ukraine would call into question the good will of the EU and the declarations made to Ukraine so far, the EC believes.
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