The EU extends benefits for Ukrainian agrarians, but with the condition of ’emergency brake’

The EU will extend the privileges for Ukrainian agrarians for another year, but with the right to “emergency braking” them. The list of products that can be “braked” has been expanded to include Ukraine’s main export product – grain.

This was stated in a statement by the European Parliament.

The European Council and the European Parliament have preliminarily approved the extension of tariff suspensions until June 5, 2025.

It was noted there that the European Commission may take “operational measures” if Ukrainian imports cause disruptions in the markets of one or more EU countries.

Namely, “any measures it deems necessary if a significant market disruption occurs in the EU or the markets of one or more EU countries due to Ukrainian imports.”

Such “emergency braking” was already provided for poultry, eggs, and sugar. But this time, members of the European Parliament have succeeded in expanding this list to include oats, maize, cereals, and honey.

“They also obtained firm commitments from the Commission to take action in the event of a sharp increase in wheat imports from Ukraine. The base period for launching emergency braking will be 2022 and 2023, which means that if the import of these products exceeds the average volumes for these two years, tariffs will be reintroduced,” the statement said.

It was also decided that such decisions would be made within 14 days (previously it was within 21).

The European Parliament and the EU Council are expected to finally approve the agreement by June 5, when the current tariff suspension period expires.