Lithuanian Minister of Agriculture, Kęstutis Navickas, has called for the European Union to extend its import restrictions beyond grain to encompass all agricultural imports from Russia
His statement, reported by LRT, follows the recent decision by the EU Council to increase import tariffs on agricultural products from Russia and Belarus.
Navickas emphasised that Russian and Belarusian products unfairly compete with those of EU farmers. More critically, he argued, the revenue generated from selling food products in the EU enables Russia to finance its military actions in Ukraine.
“By selling food products on the EU market, Russia earns billions, which can be used to finance the war it has instigated in Ukraine,” Navickas stated.
According to Navickas, Russia and Belarus have continued to receive significant income from selling not just grain but a range of agricultural and food products to the EU.
In 2023, the EU imported agricultural and food products worth €2.7 billion from Russia, marking a 2% increase from 2021. Grain accounts for approximately half of this total.
Navickas previously mentioned that the introduction of EU import tariffs on Russian and Belarusian grain essentially amounts to a de facto ban on its import into the EU.
The recent decision by the EU Council to impose “prohibitive” tariffs on grain products imported from Russia and Belarus aims to halt the import of these products.
The new tariffs will apply to grains, oilseeds, and their processed products, effectively stopping their importation.
Ukraine has long advocated for the EU to impose a complete ban on Russian agricultural imports. During the EU leaders’ summit on 21 March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticised the import of Russian food products into Europe while Ukrainian grain is left discarded on roads and rail tracks. Zelensky described the situation as “unfair”.
This call from Lithuania aligns with the broader strategy of isolating Russia economically in response to its ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Lithuanian minister’s remarks highlight a persistent issue within the EU regarding the ethical implications and economic impacts of importing goods from Russia while simultaneously supporting Ukraine in its efforts against Russian aggression.
Read also:
Click here for more News & Current Affairs at EU Today
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Follow EU Today on social media:
Twitter: @EU_today
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EUtoday.net/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@eutoday1049