EU Commission To Release Proposal On Russian Agri Imports

Reuters reporting that the European Commission is preparing to release a proposal "shortly" on the, "possibility of introducing restrictions on the import of agricultural products from Russia to the European Union." Part of a broader set of measures designed to address concerns from farmers which have led to widespread protests across the EU.

• The European Commission says, "it must support farmers further in context of Russia's war in Ukraine," and "new proposals foresee exemptions for small farms, under 10 ha, from controls and penalties related to conditionality requirements."
• According to Reuters, "EU Commission proposes to change obligation of farmers not to grow crops on part of their land into an incentive scheme."
• Comes after a call between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk which touched on changes to Common Agricultural Policy to address farmers' concerns.
• Multiple sources reported ahead of that meeting that the bloc plans to scrap rules requiring farmers to keep some land fallow, instead replacing it with an incentive scheme.
• Bloomberg reports: "Applied retroactively from the start of this year, it would mean that farmers are encouraged to maintain non-productive areas, but they no longer would risk losing income if they don’t, one of the key complaints from farmers’ groups."