The European Commission today criticized the decisions taken by Central European countries to stop grain imports from Ukraine.

Poland, Slovakia and Hungary — all bordering Ukraine — recently banned imports of wheat, oils and other agricultural products.

A representative of the Commission emphasized today that trade policy is the exclusive competence of the European Union and therefore measures taken unilaterally cannot be accepted.

Further information is needed to assess the situation, the spokeswoman said, adding that coordination of decisions within the EU is important in difficult times.

The European Union has temporarily suspended tariffs on imports from Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion in a bid to allow one of the world’s biggest grain producers to continue accessing global markets.

As Ukrainian products are often not re-exported, ministries in Budapest and Warsaw argue that farmers face disproportionate competition from duty-free imports.

Slovakia has banned the sale of Ukrainian wheat as food and animal feed citing concerns over the alleged presence of pesticides in these products.

Brussels made almost €60m available in agricultural aid to affected EU countries in March.

A second aid package is under discussion, the spokeswoman said today.

The decision to renew the temporary suspension of tariffs is expected to be taken before the end of June. The Commission proposed in February to provide for new safeguards to facilitate the reinstatement of tariffs if necessary.