MAE: Romania seeks to protect Romanian farmers while continuing support for Ukraine

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) said on Thursday that Romania's position regarding food imports from Ukraine aims both to properly protect and support Romanian farmers and producers, and to continue supporting the neighbouring country."Given the emergence of factually incorrect information in the public domain regarding Romania's position and that of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) on food imports from Ukraine, the MAE makes the following clarifications: Romania has an agreed position on the subject of trade relations between the EU and Ukraine, including agricultural imports. This position also includes provisions in the revised EU-Ukraine agreement such as a safeguard clause and quality standards for agri-food products. The revised agreement is being discussed at the European Union level, in consolidated formats, as it concerns European agricultural, trade and economic sectoral policies, not regional formats," reads an MAE press release sent on Friday.According to the same source, the issue of the impact of the war on Ukraine and the implications for its agricultural sector - as well as the effects on the internal EU market - is on the agenda of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, which will take place on Monday, 14 July. Ministers involved from Romania (the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Minister of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs) are holding discussions to jointly ensure the defence of Romania's interests."Romania's position has already been expressed, including at COREPER level, in preparation for the discussions on the revised agreement and next week's meeting. Romania's position is based on integrating multisectoral interests and seeks to appropriately protect and support Romanian farmers and producers, while continuing support for Ukraine. Narratives that set these objectives in opposition do not reflect the objective reality of Romania's policies and are aimed at generating tensions in a difficult context, where certain groups of citizens - such as farmers - have legitimate concerns that are being exploited. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are working together towards the aforementioned goal and will communicate concrete and clear results of Romania's and the EU's consolidated efforts as discussions evolve at European level," the MAE release also reads.