Polish members of the European Parliament from different parties, united as never before, tried to convince colleagues from other countries to impose sanctions on food and feed from Russia and Belarus. However, they are alone in their position. Why?
Last week, almost unanimously, Polish MPs adopted a resolution calling on the European Commission to introduce a ban on food imports from Russia and Belarus. The resolution included a call on the European Commission to develop and present a plan for sanctions against Russian and Belarusian food products.
Ban on the import of food and feed from Russia and Belarus
“Imports of food and agricultural products from Russia and Belarus continue to bring huge profits to producers, traders and the budgets of these countries. It is our moral duty to stop trade that may directly or indirectly contribute to strengthening the ability of Russia and its supporter Belarus to continue their war with Ukraine,” the statement said.
Members of the European Parliament argue that stopping trade with an aggressor state is a “moral duty”. However, convincing the remaining member states will be a difficult task.
The Brussels correspondent of RMF FM reported on the debate that took place in the European Parliament on Tuesday, which was also devoted to this issue. MPs from the European People’s Party, to which PO and PSL belong, the Liberals and Greens, as well as the Conservatives, to which PiS belongs, unanimously supported the embargo. This is unthinkable in the Polish parliament – Andrzej Galicki (PO) and Anna Fotyga (PiS), who disagree daily, put forward the same demand.
Why does the European Union not want sanctions on food products from Russia?
– The Russian Federation attacks Ukraine in the same way as the countries of the collective West. This is energy and this is agricultural products,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the PiS government.
However, the European Commission does not want an embargo because it fears it could affect food security in the world.
– EU sanctions against Russia do not apply to trade in agricultural and food products. Our sanctions were carefully designed to avoid unintended consequences for food security around the world. Olof Gill, the representative of the European Commission responsible for agriculture, told RMF FM journalist about this.
The EC fears that sanctions covering Russian agricultural products could be used as an element of propaganda in African countries where Russia plays a large role. They can be used as an argument that the West, by supporting Ukraine, wants to cause famine in the most vulnerable regions of the world.
Source: Wprost
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