MNI BRIEF: Brussels Plans Helping Ukraine Maintain Food Prod'n

The EU Commission announced a series of measures Wednesday designed to help Ukrainian farmers maintain food production by ensuring supplies of fuel and fertilisers, as well as to support vulnerable cereal-importing countries in North Africa, the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Brussels said that, as a major food producer and exporter, it would avoid export-restrictions that might exacerbate the challenges being faced by vulnerable food-importing countries.

Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said: “…We need to avoid any export restrictions to keep a lid on food prices. While the EU itself does not face a food security risk, we should still address food affordability issues and take steps to make our agriculture and food supply chains more resilient and sustainable to cope with future crises.”

The Commission also announced €500 million of support to EU states to help the hardest-hit farmers and said that this could be complemented by up to 200% national funds, which would support measures contributing to food security and addressing market imbalances.