The UAC together with the leading agrarian associations that are members of the Ukrainian Agri Forum addressed the Executive Vice President, Commissioner for Trade of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis with a request to create a simplified travel to the ports of the Baltic States, Germany, the Netherlands, Croatia, Italy and Slovenia.

The associations expressed their respect and gratitude for the comprehensive support of the EU countries and the European Commission for our country in the context of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine.

Currently, due to the suspension of the Grain Agreement in the Black Sea, there is a growing need to increase the capacity to export agricultural products through the Solidarity Roads by approximately 1-1.5 million tons of grain per month. For example, the directions to the ports of the Baltic States (Klaipeda, Liepaja, Ventspils, Ryga), Germany (Rostock, Hamburg), the Netherlands (Rotterdam), Croatia (Rijeka), Italy (Trieste), and Slovenia (Koper) are underutilized, the statement says.

"The main obstacle to the full use of these destinations and ports is the relatively high cost of transportation compared to other nearby ports, in particular Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, which currently amounts to a difference of 30-40 euros per ton. This situation creates an uneven load on the existing port infrastructure of the EU countries," the UAF noted.

Agrarian associations called on the Executive Vice President, Commissioner for Trade of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis to consider the possibility of introducing "green corridors", which will include:

• reduction of transportation costs in these areas;
• simplification and acceleration of control procedures for the transit of agricultural products,
• transfer of sanitary, phytosanitary and veterinary control from border checkpoints to the territory of the country of destination.

Ukrainian agrarian associations hope that the European Commission will understand and support this initiative.