Minister: Non-EU countries exporting to Europe must abide by same production standards
Minister Nagy argued that cheap produce entering the EU "without controls" further weakened Europe's competitiveness.
István Nagy, agriculture minister, said the European Union should demand that non-EU countries exporting farm produce to the bloc abide by the same production standards maintained by EU member states.
Speaking in Brussels on Monday, Minister Nagy argued that cheap produce entering the EU 'without controls' further weakened Europe's competitiveness.
The EU agreement on Ukrainian imports expires in June, and even then it fails to protect European farmers adequately, Minister Nagy told a press conference after a meeting of EU counterparts.
Referring to various imports such as honey, eggs and sugar, he said import quotas had been exhausted and, even then, had upset markets in some member states.
Brussels must not only take Ukrainian interests into account but make sure that the long-term interests of Hungary and other border countries are secured, he said, adding 'we haven't heard much about the European Commission's plans in this respect'.
Hungary's number one task in the face of Ukrainian farm imports remains to protect the interests of Hungarian farmers, he insisted.
Until a solution is found, Hungary will close the Ukraine-Hungary border to Ukrainian farm produce, he said.
Minister Nagy said the EU, when it came to revising Ukraine's association agreement, 'should take greater care in determining the volume of imports', and should include 'sensitive produce' such as wheat and corn in the updated agreement.
Imports, he said, got stuck in border states and caused severe market disruption.
Minister Nagy welcomed the restoration of Ukraine's Black Sea transport routes, allowing exports to reach their destinations via traditional sea routes. The minister said global food security was vitally important, but this must not come at the expense of the competitiveness of Hungarian farmers and domestic trade.
He said Hungary faced 'unpredictable and irreversible consequences' should Ukraine succeed in its bid to join the EU, as this would dilute agricultural subsidies and 'lead to the ruin of Hungarian farmers'.
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