EU Commissioner: the EU is increasing the capacity of solidarity routes enabling the transport of Ukrainian grain

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Adina Valean, who held a press conference following the meeting in Brussels with Ukrainian infrastructure minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, reminded that the European Union created the so-called solidarity corridors last May with the aim of creating an alternative transport option for Ukraine’s agricultural exports. Solidarity with Ukraine resulted in unprecedented cooperation between Romania and Moldova, and an agreement was reached to increase the utilization of the Danube trade route by making better use of the unused capacity of some ports. The cooperation between Ukraine, Romania and Moldova, especially in the area of simplifying border control procedures, will increase the transport capacity along the land routes leading to the Danube ports and the sea port of Constanta, he pointed out. The EU commissioner expressed his gratitude that the parties increased the capacity of the port of Constanta by defining additional anchorages and improving access to the port and the management of traffic within the port. “Last year, we exceeded initial expectations regarding the amount of grain transported through the solidarity corridors. The measure has become a lifeline for Ukraine,” he said.

The Ukrainian railway system should be integrated into the European one

Adina Valean said that between May 2022 and August 2023, EU solidarity allowed Ukraine to export more than 53 million tons of agricultural products, including about 48 million tons of grain, oilseeds and other products. All this meant an income of about 38 billion euros for Ukraine, he said. At the same time, Kyiv imported nearly 34 million tons of goods through the solidarity routes, worth about 70 billion euros, he added. He also said that by creating the gauge according to the European standard, the Brussels board wants to ensure the integration of Ukraine’s railway systems into the EU’s transport system. Its goal is to create a seamless rail connection between Ukraine and the EU countries, thereby helping the country’s integration into the EU’s single market, he emphasized. Finally, the EU Commissioner informed that the European Commission will publish a new call for tenders in the framework of the European Network Financing Instrument on Tuesday. For the first time, Ukraine and Moldova – under the same conditions as EU member states – can apply for the financing of infrastructure projects along the solidarity routes without needing EU partners, he added.

MTI