Biznes Fakty
Donald Tusk on regulations on the border with Ukraine: we are returning to the pre-war situation
Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that the mechanism permitting duty-free imports from Ukraine will be terminated at the start of June. He noted that the regulations in effect prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will be reinstated.
– After we secured victory in the elections, one of our initial actions was to urgently amend the ATM mechanism (autonomous trade measures – ed.) to establish certain quotas, but that was merely the beginning – stated Donald Tusk during the Sejm’s plenary session.
He continued: – Subsequently, I launched a campaign alongside my ministers urging the EU to abolish the ATM mechanism, which had eased trade with Ukraine.
Tusk: We are reverting to pre-war conditions regarding border regulations
The Prime Minister emphasized that the government aims to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, but this assistance cannot be at the detriment of Polish producers, particularly farmers.
– We have accomplished this – starting June 5, that mechanism will be eliminated. We are reverting to the pre-war conditions concerning border regulations – he asserted.
The head of government remarked that the implementation of the ATM mechanism by the European Union „has widely opened the Polish border for Ukrainian goods, particularly agricultural products, which were imported without any oversight.” He observed that this decision had been endorsed by Mateusz Morawiecki’s administration.
– I refrained from criticizing it at that time. However, three or four months were sufficient to realize that this mechanism was illogical and posed a threat to the stability of the Polish market. Action was needed to halt it – initially concerning grain, but not exclusively. (…) We witnessed thousands of freight cars filled with grain arriving daily in Poland, while you proclaimed on camera that everything was fine – Tusk pointed out, addressing PiS lawmakers.
Prime Minister: No one can label me as anti-Ukrainian
The Prime Minister reassured that the government will safeguard Polish economic interests, even if they conflict with Ukrainian interests.
– I have no issue with this, as no one can accuse me of being anti-Ukrainian regarding the Ukrainian-Russian war – Donald Tusk asserted.
The EU initiated the Autonomous Trade Measures (ATM) mechanism in June 2022, following the onset of the war in Ukraine. The ATM facilitates duty-free entry of all Ukrainian goods into EU member states. In 2023, the duration of this measure was extended for an additional year.
In January of the previous year, the European Commission proposed extending the ATM while instituting maximum quotas for specific products to protect the EU market. These included eggs, poultry, sugar, oats, corn, groats, and honey. The ATM mechanism will remain in effect until June 5, 2025.
