News
14.03.2024
Failure of the European Parliament to approve swift rollover of trade support to Ukraine may turn into a tragic mistake. It can still be averted
“The failure of the European Parliament to approve today in Strasbourg the Commission proposal for a rollover of EU autonomous trade measures (ATMs) for Ukraine may mean only one thing – further delays of this crucial element of the EU economic support for Ukraine, while giving in to politically-motivated demands to deny access to the EU market for Ukrainian farmers, a key source of the country’s export revenues”, – said Alex Lissitsa, President of UCAB.
On behalf of the Ukrainian agricultural community UCAB is calling upon the Members of the European Parliament, in particular members of the European People’s Party (EPP), a powerful friend and ally of Ukraine, to embrace their political responsibility and support in full the original Commission proposal. This year, Ukraine needs every euro of export revenues to sustain its war effort, macroeconomic stability and social security obligations. One should remember that last year Ukrainian agrifood exports constituted more than 60 percent of the country’s export revenues. Every week of delay, coupled with every week of politically inspired border blockades of the Ukrainian western borders may become another drop of blood the Ukrainian soldiers lose in vain on the battlefield, another tear Ukrainian civilians shed mourning their close ones lost in Russian missile strikes on peaceful homes.
It is not yet too late to cast your vote in the European Parliament international trade (INTA) Committee and to avoid a tragic mistake of denying Ukraine help it needs now the most.
