Both Ministers stressed the particular significance of the partnership and unity of European countries at the time when the war was waged right across our border and our Ukrainian neighbours heroically fought for their independence. Attacked by Russia, Ukraine needs multidimensional support from the whole international community. They expressed their solidarity with the Ukrainian nation and support for Ukraine as a sovereign, independent state which had the right to decide about its future.

Cooperation to support Ukraine

Ukraine is a very important link in the global trade in agricultural products, especially cereals. Any possible actions need to be taken in order to enable exports of agricultural products from Ukraine to the global market so as to prevent a threat to the food security of the countries which are most dependent on imports of these products, e.g. the countries in North and East Africa and Middle East.

Minister Cem Özdemir thanked Poland for its assistance to Ukraine, both humanitarian aid and in the form of the facilitation of the transport of Ukrainian commodities.

Increasing productivity and restrictions

Deputy Prime Minister Henryk Kowalczyk underlined that in order to safeguard food security productivity needed to increased. The actions to mitigate climate change and to address restrictions related to natural resources still continued to be important, but the achievement of very ambitious objectives must not contribute to reducing production and enhancing EU imports.

“We must take action to ensure a balance between the food security objectives, the adequate food production level in the EU and the objectives of the European Green Deal,” Deputy Prime Minister Henryk Kowalczyk said.

The war in Ukraine must translate into an approach to the Common Agricultural Policy. The Russian aggression makes it necessary to launch actions intended to make the EU independent of imports and to ensure its food sovereignty.

Deputy Prime Minister Henryk Kowalczyk stressed that food availability in Poland and in the EU was not at risk. In order to alleviate the impact of high prices, the Government of the Republic of Poland introduced temporarily reduced or zero rates of the VAT tax on basic food products, fertilisers and gas.

CAP Strategic Plans in Poland and Germany

The Ministers also shared experiences related to the CAP Strategic Plans. It is important for both Poland and the FRG that the Plans are agreed and approved by the European Commission as soon as possible.

“Poland would like to implement the assumptions of the European Green Deal in a manner which would not have an adverse impact on Polish agriculture and which would also enable the preservation of its competitiveness and export potential,” Deputy Prime Minister Henryk Kowalczyk informed.

Combating the ASF

On the issue of combating the African Swine Fever (ASF), the Ministers declared their readiness for further, close coordination of actions and exchange of information between the veterinary services of both countries. Poland and Germany plan to sign soon a technical agreement on the strengthening of the cooperation between the veterinary services of both countries.

Common challenges

The Ministers assured of their readiness to take joint actions to address common challenges and threats related not only to agricultural policy but also – in the current geopolitical situation – to unity, solidarity and security, including food security in the EU and in the world.

Germany is Poland’s key partner in the trade in agri-food products, with a share of about 25% in Polish exports and a 20% share in its imports. Warsaw is the second capital, after Paris, to which Minister Cem Özdemir has paid an official visit since he took office in December 2021.