Inese Vaidere: regulation is signed that will increase customs duties for Russia and Belarus

On Tuesday 17 June, Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, and Adam Szłapka, Minister for EU Affairs of the Polish Presidency, in the presence of MEP Inese Vaidere (EPP group), signed a regulation on the application of new tariffs on products from Russia and Belarus. The newly signed legislation provides for the gradual suspension of imports of fertilisers and now all agricultural products from Russia.

MEP Inese Vaidere, the lead EP negotiator for the legislation, emphasises: "An important step has been taken - the regulation that will gradually increase customs duties for products from Russia and Belarus has been signed and will enter into force on 1 July. I am glad that with a decisive and broad support from European Parliament and the Council, we  have managed to achieve this important milestone. I am convinced that we will soon be able to observe its real impact on Russian economy. 

This pivotal decision will help prevent Russia from using the EU market to finance its war machine. It is not acceptable that three years after Russia launched its full-scale war on Ukraine, the EU continues to buy its products in large volumes. Especially as we see no wish from Russia's side to stop the war, on contrary it continues ruthlessly attacking civilians, even a maternity hospital."

Inese Vaidere explains that the new rules balance the interests of both European fertiliser manufacturers and farmers: "The regulation will also boost EU fertiliser production, which has suffered due to cheap Russian imports, while giving farmers time to adjust to the new market situation. It also includes monitoring provisions to closely follow the fertiliser market, as well as mitigating measures in case prices substantially increase. If needed, this could include temporarily removing tariffs on fertilisers from countries other than Russia and Belarus."