As part of the EU's solidarity with Ukraine, the Commission has presented a set of measures to help Ukraine export its agricultural products. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the blockade of Ukrainian ports, Ukrainian grain and other agricultural goods can no longer reach their destinations. The situation threatens world food security and there is an urgent need to establish alternative logistic routes using all appropriate means of transport.
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In today's communication, the European Commission presents an action plan to establish "solidarity belts". All this is done to ensure that Ukraine can export grain, but also import the goods it needs, from humanitarian aid to animal feed and fertilizers.
", using EU infrastructure. This is a gigantic challenge, which is why it is necessary to coordinate and optimize logistic chains, create new routes and avoid bottlenecks whenever possible. Our communication concerns emergency solutions, but also medium and long-term measures to better connect and integrate Ukraine's infrastructure with the EU. For short and long-term solutions, we will work with the Ukrainian authorities and in close cooperation, especially with neighboring Member States, which have spared no effort to help during the crisis," said Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean
On the Ukrainian side, thousands of wagons and trucks are waiting for clearance
Despite the immediate efforts of the EU and its member states to facilitate border crossings between Ukraine and the EU, thousands of wagons and trucks are waiting for clearance on the Ukrainian side. The current average waiting time for wagons is 16 days, and on some borders up to 30 days. More grain is still stored and kept in Ukrainian silos ready for export. Among the challenges are the different track gauges: Ukrainian wagons are not compatible with most of the EU rail network. In this situation, most of the goods have to be reloaded to lorries or wagons that fit the EU standard track gauge. The process is time consuming and the possibilities of transhipment along the borders are limited.
Priority actions
In order to remove these obstacles and establish routes of solidarity, the Commission will work with Member States and stakeholders on the following priority actions in the short term:
- Additional freight rolling stock, ships and trucks: The Commission urges EU market players to make additional transport available as a matter of urgency. In order to match supply and demand and establish appropriate contacts, the EC will set up a logistics platform for matching partners. It will also invite Member States to designate Solidarity Lans dedicated contact points ("one-stop-shop").
- Capacity of transport networks and transhipment terminals: Ukrainian export shipments of agricultural products should be treated as a priority, and infrastructure managers should make available queuing places for these exports. The Commission is also urging market participants to urgently relocate mobile grain loaders to the appropriate border terminals in order to speed up transhipment. Contract for road transport it will also remove bottlenecks with Ukraine. In order to encourage EU carriers to enter their vehicles into Ukraine, the EC will also examine the possibilities of additional financial guarantees.
- Customs operations and other inspections: The Commission urges national authorities to use maximum flexibility. Also provide adequate staff to expedite procedures at border crossing points.
- Storage of goods in the territory of the EU: The Commission will assess the available storage options in the EU. It will also coordinate activities with the Member States to ensure greater interim storage of Ukrainian exports.
The Commission will also work to increase infrastructure capacity
In the medium and long term, the EC will work on increasing the infrastructure capacity of the new export corridors. It will also work on creating new infrastructure connections as part of the reconstruction of Ukraine. The next round of calls for proposals under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) will support projects that improve transport links with Ukraine, including rail connections and rail-road terminals. In this context, the EC today adopted a decision to sign a high-level agreement with Ukraine. The contract updates the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) maps as part of the Commission's policy to extend TEN-T to neighboring countries.
Background.
Under normal circumstances, 75% of Ukraine's grain production is exported, generating around 20% of the country's annual export earnings. Before the war, Ukrainian Black Sea ports accounted for 90% of grain and oilseeds exports. About one third of exports goes to Europe, China and Africa, respectively.
Source: European Commission
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