The Bulgarian parliament decided this Thursday, unlike Poland, not to extend the ban on the import of Ukrainian grains beyond the deadline of September 15.
Sofia “does not support” the extension of restrictions, says a resolution approved by parliament with an overwhelming majority (124 votes in favor and 69 against) on the initiative of the pro-European government.
The text speaks of “solidarity with Ukraine” and the need to “guarantee global food security.”
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky welcomed the vote.
“Bulgaria sets an example of true solidarity,” Zelensky wrote on the social network X (formerly Twitter).
In April, the EU authorized five member states – Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia – to ban the sale of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower unless they interfere with transit to other countries.
The goal was to protect its farmers, who blamed these imports for falling prices in their local markets.
Following the Russian offensive in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and the closure of the Black Sea sea routes, the five countries received a flood of cheap grain from Kiev, which was delayed due to logistical problems, instead of being transported to Africa and the Middle East. East.
Poland has already signaled it will extend the ban unilaterally, and Hungary and Slovakia are awaiting the Commission’s announcement, but they have also warned they will do the same if Brussels decides not to extend the restrictions. Romania, for its part, said it would comply with the decision of the European executive body.
Bulgaria differs from its neighbors in that it is a country of large sunflower oil producers, who have complained of serious seed shortages and high prices since the embargo was introduced.
Sunflower oil producers, who have complained of severe seed shortages and high prices since the embargo, welcomed the “triumph of reason”, while farmers who are unhappy with Ukrainian competition condemned the resolution.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov explained on Wednesday that the government believes it is necessary to “stimulate competition in the market” to curb food inflation.
Sofia will also ask Brussels to help “improve road and railway infrastructure in order to speed up the transportation of Ukrainian goods to third countries.”
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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