Slovak agri minister slams Ukraine’s WTO lawsuits, cites lack of legal basis

The lawsuits Ukraine has filed against Poland, Slovakia and Hungary before the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over their unilateral ban on Ukrainian agricultural goods have no legal basis since taking food in an uncontrolled way to an EU member state is probably not an argument, said Slovakia’s Agriculture Minister Jozef Bíreš on Tuesday.

Slovakia, Poland and Hungary decided to block grain imports from Ukraine after the European Commission decided not to extend its temporary import ban into Ukraine’s five EU neighbours. They claim the move is to protect their farmers, who struggle to compete on markets with the influx of cheaper Ukrainian grain.

“I was surprised. Certainly, the lawsuit, if they (the Ukrainians) file it, has no legal basis because taking food in an uncontrolled way to an EU member state is probably not an argument,” Bíreš said, adding that there is little time to agree on the so-called grain export licensing proposed by Ukraine.

Bíreš went on to announce that Slovakia will expand the EU’s current €5 million aid to Slovakia’s farmers for a total package of €15.7 million.

After announcing the lawsuit, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also suggested a “compromise scenario”, which would involve an action plan to control the export to five neighbouring countries. Shmyhal also said Ukraine was considering retaliatory measures, including a ban on the export of Slovak, Polish and Hungarian goods to Ukraine.

The conflict puts a strain on otherwise good relations between Slovakia and Ukraine before the crucial September 30 snap election, in which frontrunner Smer is campaigning on ending military support to its eastern neighbour.

“The European Union cannot fight for Ukraine. Above all, it must fight for the interest of its member states,” Smer leader Robert Fico said about the ban, adding that Ukraine is “not a sacred cow which cannot be slaughtered”.

The reinstated ban also has the support of political parties which support arming Ukraine, including poll runner-up Progressive Slovakia.

“There are numerous such lawsuits at the WTO,” said Progressives leader Michal Šimečka, adding that Slovakia had no choice after Poland and Hungary reinstated their ban, as it would create a funnel of Ukrainian grain to Slovakia, but urged not to make Ukraine the “enemy” in the situation.

(Barbara Zmušková | Euractiv.sk)