EU to provide Polish farmers with €176M in support

The European Commission (EC) has approved a EUR 176 million program to support Polish companies in the face of Russia's war against Ukraine.

According to Ukrinform, the EC reported this.

"The EC has approved a Polish program to support companies in the face of Russia's war against Ukraine worth about EUR 176 million (PLN 780 million)," the statement said.

It is noted that the aid, which will be provided in the form of subsidies for interest rates on loans, will be available to companies engaged in the trade or purchase of grain, trade in seeds of agricultural plants, and purchase or freezing of soft fruits.

The tool will be available for small and medium-sized companies. It will be available to over 1,000 beneficiaries.

The purpose of the measure is to help beneficiaries who are currently facing liquidity shortages caused by the current geopolitical crisis, the statement said.

As Ukrinform reported, in July, five EU countries signed a declaration to extend the ban on imports of Ukrainian grain to protect the interests of their farmers. But Ukraine's food can still enter the world market through their territories after Russia withdrew from the grain deal.

The agriculture ministers of Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia ask the EU to develop mechanisms that will allow Ukrainian grain and other food products to reach their destinations without impacting the agricultural industries of transit countries.