“The Polish Parliament calls on the European Commission to propose sanctions related to the import of Russian and Belarusian food and agricultural products into the European Union,” reads the resolution adopted on Thursday. At the same time, the Chamber urged the Council of the EU and the European Parliament to take measures to protect sensitive sectors of the EU market from excessive imports from Ukraine. The document also stated that the situation of European agriculture requires a verification of the provisions of the Green Deal.
In the resolution “on imposing sanctions in connection with the import of Russian and Belarusian food and agricultural products into the European Union,” the Polish Parliament emphasized that the import of food and agricultural products from Russia and Belarus continues to generate substantial revenues for Russian and Belarusian producers and traders, as well as for the budgets of these countries. “It is our moral duty to cease trade that can directly or indirectly contribute to strengthening Russia and its supporting Belarus to continue the war with Ukraine, especially since Russian imports may include grains stolen from the occupied territories of Ukraine,” the Chamber declared. The Polish Parliament also pointed out that trade with these countries negatively affects the single market. “Russia continues its strategy of treating food as a weapon, causing disruptions to the supply of Ukrainian agricultural products worldwide. Therefore, supporting Ukraine in restoring its export of goods to the countries that need them most should be a main priority for the EU. Trade in food and agricultural products must not continue to support the brutal Russian regime and its accomplices in Minsk,” the document states.
The Polish Parliament also called on the Council of the EU and the European Parliament to introduce changes in the area of autonomous trade measures to protect sensitive sectors of the EU agricultural market from excessive imports from Ukraine. “From the European Commission, we expect the urgent undertaking of efforts aimed at the fastest possible return to the exclusive use of rules stemming from the association agreement between the European Union and Ukraine in trade relations with Ukraine,” the deputies emphasized.
According to the Polish Parliament, the situation of European agriculture also requires an immediate verification by the EU institutions of the provisions of the Green Deal. Its “excessive, irrational, and costly” requirements for agriculture should be “suspended and adjusted.” “Actions for climate protection must take into account the real needs and capabilities of European farmers,” the Chamber highlighted.