Hungarian farmers demand decisive action from Brussels! Extend the ban on the import of Ukrainian grain by the EU!

(Photo: NAK)

The farmers write an open letter addressed to Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, in which they ask that decisions be made on a professional basis in Brussels instead of the support of international big capitalists.

• Due to the unacceptable measures of the EU, Ukrainian grain hit the markets.
• Hungarian farmers suffer losses of over HUF 100 billion only for wheat, and the prospects are no better for other crops.
• Brussels completely ignores the interests of Hungarian and Eastern European farmers.
• Ukrainian produce must not be allowed into the country!

The Ukrainian grain that has been flowing in since last summer due to the ill-considered and mistaken measures of Brussels – planned to go to Africa, but still stuck in our region – has caused serious problems in our country and other frontline countries bordering Ukraine. Due to the helplessness of Brussels, Hungary and other countries introduced an import ban under their national authority, which the EU subsequently allowed until September 15. It is unacceptable that this ban was not extended by the bureaucrats in Brussels, despite the strong requests of our country and several other countries involved.

On Sunday morning, around 400 producers from all the counties of the country gathered in front of the border crossing in Záhony

Many of them marched with tractors and power machines on the Ukrainian side of highway 4, while others voiced their dissatisfaction with banners. Balázs Győrffy, the president of NAK, said as the main speaker of the demonstration: the farmers experience the European Commission’s decision on Friday, with which Brussels lifted the import restriction on Ukrainian grain, as a betrayal. Moreover, the decision does not provide help to the war-torn Ukrainian people, but serves the interests of international big capitalists. 9 of the 10 largest Ukrainian agricultural enterprises are not registered in Ukraine. These are typically the interests of American and Western European capital funds. Knowing this, it also needs to be explained why Ukrainian agricultural interests are so protected in Brussels, why Ukrainian agricultural products produced without complying with any EU production regulations are forced onto the EU markets without duty or quota. – The European Commission does not represent our interests! We are glad that the government is with us, despite the fact that it had to take measures to help Hungarian farmers in violation of EU law – pointed out Balázs Győrffy, referring to the fact that the Hungarian government extended the import restriction to 24 product groups at midnight on Friday. . István Jakab, the vice-president of the Parliament and the president of MAGOSZ, announced that the farmers are writing an open letter to Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, asking them to make a decision against the dumping of Ukrainian agricultural products on a professional basis, not to make them bitter on the basis of ideas obtained from thin air. the lives of farmers. He recalled that when our country joined the European Union, Hungarians had an illusion that the community would provide security and stability. However, this illusion has now been dispelled. “We can’t trust Brussels.” There are no miracles, it will be what we work for! We didn’t start this war, we don’t fight it, and we shouldn’t pay the price – István Jakab stated. He then added: the farmers stand by the Hungarian government, because maintaining the import ban is in the national interest. However, the authorities are asked to increase the efficiency of inspections so that Ukrainian grain cannot enter the country via a detour.

Both farmers’ organizations and the Hungarian government have already made their voices heard in many cases in the interests of farmers

Hungarian farmers expect decisive and immediate measures from Brussels. In the interest of the farmers of Hungary and the other affected countries, they demand that the European Commission extend the import ban on Ukrainian grain. Furthermore, develop a solution that is also effective in the long term, which, in addition to supporting the delivery of Ukrainian products to their traditional markets, also helps to restore the stability of the European grain market and EU farmers. In addition to limiting imports, EU decision-makers are called on to take steps to stabilize the market and to compensate the losses of Hungarian farmers. The latter was partially overcome, but the compensation is disproportionately small compared to the damage. In addition, it must be a basic requirement that the plant protection and phytosanitary regulations applicable to EU production are also observed for Ukrainian crops.

If the EU doesn’t close the borders, the farmers will – but in this case there will be no grain traffic through Hungary either!

NAK