Orbán’s MEPs call for fair treatment

In response to an EP committee vote on Thursday, MEPs representing countries that neighbour Ukraine in a joint statement called for the “fair treatment” of EU farmers, stating: “Our countries fully stand by Ukraine and provide all the necessary support in these difficult times, but this cannot mean that our farmers pay the price of the war.”

In their statement signed on behalf of Hungary by ruling Fidesz’s Enikő Győri and Ernő Schaller-Baross, the MEPs referred to the vote of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) approving a one-year extension of the suspension of import tariffs on Ukrainian agricultural products including grain to the European Union. “Our countries fully stand by Ukraine and provide all the necessary support in these difficult times, but this cannot mean that our farmers pay the price of the war,” they said, noting that they abstained in Thursday’s vote on the prolongation of the Ukrainian trade liberalisation measures (ATM).

“By our abstention, we are giving a chance to our Member States and the Commission to finalise their negotiations and get a deal that is acceptable for our countries. Only a prolonged ATM could provide the necessary legal basis for the Commission to activate the exceptional safeguard measures. However, for the moment, we have not been offered guarantees by the Commission. We are calling on the Commission to find a solution for our Member States’ problem as soon as possible and save the harvest of our farmers for 2023. Our trust is there. It is time the Commission delivers,” they said.