In Romania, Bulgaria farmers protest against the import of cheap Ukrainian grain, block borders

1. In Bucharest and many other cities in Romania, farmers staged a protest. Thus, they demanded that the authorities protect them from importing cheap grain from Ukraine.

"Stop genetically modified grain from Ukraine!", "Your calculations are our bankruptcy!" and "Corridors of Solidarity - Sources of Vulnerability!" - such inscriptions adorn the posters of the protesters.
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2. Thousands of farmers protested across Romania on Friday over the impact of Ukrainian grain imports on prices, blocking traffic and border checkpoints with tractors and trucks and urging the European Commission to intervene.

Anger is rising among farmers in Central and Eastern Europe over a flood of cheap Ukrainian grain imports, exempt from customs fees until June 2024, which have hurt prices and sales of local producers.

Ukraine, one of the world’s largest grain exporters, had its Black Sea ports blocked following Russia’s February 2022 invasion and found alternative shipping routes through European Union states Poland and Romania, helped by “solidarity lanes” supported by the EU.

But millions of tonnes of grain – cheaper than those produced in the EU – ended up in neighboring countries, propelled by logistical bottlenecks and lesser distances.

*Polish Agriculture Minister Henryk Kowalczyk resigned from his post this week. Polish and Bulgarian farmers have also held protests.*
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*3. Poland to temporarily halt Ukraine grain imports to mitigate impact on prices*

Imports of Ukrainian grain to Poland will be temporarily halted to mitigate impact on prices, but transit will still be allowed, Polish Agriculture Minister Robert Telus said on Friday.

Telus took office on Thursday after his predecessor resigned amid farmers’ protests over falling prices of produce.

“We agreed to limit and for now halt exports to Poland,” Telus told reporters after meeting his Ukrainian counterpart.
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