Poland may ask for up to 500 million euro in compensation for fruit and vegetable growers hurt by the Russian import ban, depriving farmers of one of their main export markets.
Following Russia’s introduction this month on a ban on Polish fruit and vegetables, Poland has said it would ask for compensation from the EU for its farmers, quoting the principle of solidarity within the 28-nation bloc.
Sources close to the Polish government have told the PAP news agency that the amount requested could be up to 500 million euro. The source said that Poland would look for other member states to support the application.
“It should not be the case that Europe and the EU are leading an economic war with Russia, after the shooting down of the Malaysian plane in Ukraine and it is only Poland that is paying the price,” the source said. Agriculture Minister Marek Sawicki said that the application would be sent to the EC in late August or early September.
The European Commission has already signalled that it would not rule out compensation for Polish fruit and vegetable growers: last week EC spokesperson Frederic Vincent said the Polish motion would be analyzed in the context of the market situation.
As of the beginning of August, Russia banned imports of a number of Polish fruit varieties, including apples, pears, cherries, plums as well as Polish cabbage. The official reason for the fruit ban is an alleged breach of Russian phytosanitary standards, but the move is widely being seen as a response to EU sanctions on Russia over what is sees as Moscow’s role in stoking the bloody conflict in Ukraine.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, in 2013 Poland exported some 804,000 tons of fruit and vegetables and their products to Russia, worth almost 336 million euro. The ministry estimates losses related to the embargo to reach about 500 million euro.
Source: Polskie Radio - kw/pg
http://www.thenews.pl/1/12/Artykul/178036,Poland-counts-on-EU-solidarity-in-Russian-fruit-war