Polish Sejm passes resolution imposing sanctions on agricultural products from Russia and Belarus

Friday, 8 March 2024, 12:59

The Sejm (House of Representatives) of the Republic of Poland has adopted a resolution that will impose sanctions upon the import of Russian and Belarusian food and agricultural products into the European Union.

Source: Polskie Radio

Polskie Radio’s reporter Tomasz Zielenkiewicz said that 441 members of parliament voted in favour, with two abstentions. The draft resolution was prepared by the Presidium of the Sejm.

The lower house of the Polish parliament calls upon the European Commission to impose sanctions on the import of Russian and Belarusian food and agricultural products into the European Union. In the resolution, the Polish Sejm points out that the import of agricultural products from Russia and the Republic of Belarus continues to bring significant revenues to the producers and traders in, and national budgets of, these countries.

Representing the position of the Civic Coalition political alliance, MP Marta Vtsislo noted that Poland should persuade the entire European community to resist authoritarian regimes and show solidarity with Ukraine.

Quote: "The resolution meets the needs of Polish and European farmers, represents the voice of the Polish parliament, and at the same time strengthens the position of the Polish government in negotiations with the European Union. The document calls on the European Union to return to the rules that applied to trade with Ukraine and other non-community countries before the start of the full-scale war, meeting the basic requirements of Polish farmers," stated the politician.

Read also: As Polish protesters spill Ukrainian grain on border, trade with Belarus continues unfettered: How Poland continues to import Russian agricultural products

Background: 

  • The Polish government believes that the EU should adopt a joint decision to ban the import of Russian and Belarusian grain. 
  • It was previously reported that Poland would "carefully" analyse the consequences of Latvia's decision to ban the import of Russian food products, and won’t rule out taking similar measures itself.

Read more: How Poland replaces Ukrainian agricultural products with Russian ones – investigation by Ukrainska Pravda

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