Tusk Talks Up Potential Mirroring Of Romania Grain Plan

Wires carrying comments from Polish PM Donald Tusk regarding the tense situation between Ukraine and a number of eastern European EU member states over grain/food imports following a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpary Denys Shmyhal in Warsaw. Tusk says that 'We agreed that solutions that were implemented regarding grain in Romania and Bulgaria could potentially have a place in Poland.' Adds that 'We are closer to finding a solution with Ukraine regarding food imports'.

• AP reports "Farmers in many countries have been staging vehement protests against the imports and tensions have grown between Kyiv and its staunch ally Warsaw over the tax-free inflow of Ukraine’s farm produce. Tusk has suggested that Poland,[...] will seek quotas on the imports during the talks. He has also suggested boosting imports to needy countries."
• Tusk is likely referring to the 'grain control plan' agreed on a bilateral basis between Ukraine and Romania. Under the system, customs officials affix a seal to grain shipments that is only removed on leaving the country. This enables the swift transit of grain to other countries without impacting on the domestic market.
• The grain plan is viewed as a more constructive solution to the issue of cheap Ukrainian grain flooding European markets, compared to the blunt tool of quotas and bans implemented by Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary that have strained relations between the neighbouring states.