Things have been buzzing for some time in Europe between Brussels, Poland and Hungary. The import of Ukrainian grain to – and especially through – Europe is a hot topic. But according to European journalist Geert Jan Hahn, Brussels is not the black man in this case. “The European Commission has been really receptive to the complaints from those farmers and the capitals.”
When war broke out, the European Commission came up with so-called solidarity corridors, Hahn knows. “In this way, grain could enter the world market from Ukraine by land or internal waterways via Poland and Romania.” But farmers in affected countries have complained, believing this was disrupting the market.
Compensation
‘Then the European agriculture ministers from five countries met and lodged complaints in Brussels. Then Brussels provided financial compensation, which came from a crisis fund for agriculture,’ explains the Europe journalist. Poland and Hungary then closed their borders to Ukrainian grain.
“Warsaw will still have the shorter end of the stick”
Hahn therefore believes that it has now become a power struggle between Warsaw and Budapest on one side and Brussels on the other. ‘The question now is whether trade policy is a national or a European issue. In any case, Warsaw should have the shorter end of the stick because it is simply a European competence,’ says the European journalist.
According to Hahn, you transfer that competence when you become a member of the European Union, but “Warsaw wants to keep pulling the strings.” Farmers in the countries concerned are already receiving compensation of one hundred million euros from Brussels. This comes in addition to previous compensation from the European Union. “So it can no longer be said that it is only about compensation, because this has already been promised two or three times by Brussels,” says Hahn.
Deal
The Europe journalist therefore thinks that there are other underlying reasons, ‘and then you want to play chess in a different way’. For example, Hungary cannot apply for the krone recovery fund because it has not yet resolved other problems with Brussels. ‘And elections are currently taking place in Poland and Slovakia, so you want to win people over. In any case, Brussels is not the bogeyman”.
No agreement has been signed so far between the heart of Europe and Poland and Hungary. “The European Trade Commission is doing its best, but the countries on the other side are not really moving,” Hahn explains. Warsaw and Kiev have now reached an agreement, now we have to wait for an agreement with Brussels.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
