Ukraine’s accession to EU poses serious risk for farmers, we not to allow this – Hungarian agricultural minister

Hungary's main task remains to protect the interests of Hungarian farmers from Ukrainian agricultural products, Hungarian Agriculture Minister István Nagy said after a meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on Monday.

"Brussels remains indebted to the EU's long-term decision. We have not learned more about the encouraging situation now [regarding Ukrainian agricultural products]. That is why our country continues to comply with the ban on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products," he said on Facebook.

According to the Hungarian minister, Ukraine's accession to the European Union poses a serious risk.

"This could have unpredictable and irreversible consequences, radically change European agriculture and significantly reduce agricultural subsidies, which will ruin Hungarian farmers. We will not allow this," the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture said.

As reported, a meeting of EU agricultural ministers was held in Brussels, at which Hungary handed over the presidency to the Polish government.

In his parting words to his Polish counterpart Czesław Siekierski, Nagy pointed out the need to consider the regulation regulating Ukrainian agricultural imports, which expires in June, taking into account the interests of European farmers.

The Hungarian minister also held talks and reached an agreement with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Romania Florin Barbu regarding the need to find an encouraging and long-term solution to the problems caused by Ukrainian agricultural products.

"The competitiveness of our farmers cannot be compromised," he said on Facebook.