The EU is holding a triallogue tonight on the issue of extending autonomous trade measures for Ukraine, and the European Commission's position is to find the right balance between maintaining support for Ukraine's economy and at the same time providing guarantees for certain groups of agri-food products. This was stated during a briefing in Brussels on Tuesday by European Commission spokesman Olof Gill, UNN reports.
І think the key thing is just to keep an eye on the trialogue taking place this evening. The Сommision position on extending the autonomous trade measures for Ukraine is very clear, we try to strike to right balance between maintaining strong support for the Ukrainian economy for as long as it takes, while building in safeguards for certain ptroduct groups, agrifood products, that we feel are based on the market evidence warranted greater protection, and we will look forward with interest to seeing how the debate and discussion plays out in the trialogue this evening
Addendum
According to the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council, on March 18, EU Permanent Representatives in the COREPER format were to discuss the issue of autonomous trade measures for Ukraine, and a triallogue and discussions on this issue are scheduled for March 19.
Meanwhile, tagesschau and AFP point out that "there are no signs of agreement among the 27 EU countries in the debate on the upper limit of duty-free imports of Ukrainian grain".
According to diplomats, there was no clear majority among the member states on Tuesday for a proposal by the European Parliament to extend the restrictions on poultry, eggs and sugar from Ukraine proposed by the EU Commission in January to grain. Further talks are scheduled for the evening, AFP reports.
German Secretary of State for European Affairs Anna Luhrmann (Greens) has once again spoken out against tightening import restrictions. The EU should allow Ukraine to "earn money by exporting agricultural products," she said in Brussels. Among the member states, Poland and France, in particular, called for restrictions on duty-free imports, the media note.
Recall
On January 31, the European Commission proposed to extend the suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian exports to the EU for another year, while proposing measures to mitigate the possible impact on farmers in the EU.
On March 7, the European Parliament gave its first approval for duty-free access to the EU for Ukrainian goods for another year, but with the right to restrictions.
For reference
The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which includes a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, has provided Ukrainian businesses with preferential access to the EU market since 2016. Immediately after the outbreak of Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine, the EU introduced autonomous trade measures in June 2022 that allow duty-free access for all Ukrainian goods to the EU market. These measures were extended for one year in June 2023 and expire on June 5, 2024.