Moldova is planning to join the European Union’s decision to restrict imports of agricultural products from Ukraine, the Moldovan Ministry of Agriculture reported on May 6.
The European Commission banned the imports of four Ukrainian products to five EU countries on May 2, citing “severe logistical bottlenecks” in processing those goods.
On May 6, Moldovan Agriculture Minister Vladimir Bolea informed his Ukrainian counterpart Mykola Solskyi that Chisinau intends to join the EU decision to impose temporary measures on imports of wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower originating in Ukraine, while allowing their transit.
At the meeting, Bolea explained to Solskyi that Moldova’s storage facilities have a significant amount of grain, and this raises concerns among farmers that they will not have enough space for the new harvest.
“At the same time, the trend of domestic grain exports is downward, logistics costs have increased, and prices on international exchanges have collapsed,” he added.
“Our farmers need to make the most efficient use of grain stocks and prepare for the new agricultural season.”
The Moldovan Minister of Agriculture emphasized that Chisinau stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people who have been subjected to Russian aggression and is ready to engage in a “constructive dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities” to address the problems of farmers in both countries.
As a result of the meeting, the parties agreed to strengthen the dialogue at the ministerial level to facilitate the exchange of information and develop ties with members of the agricultural community, the statement said.