EU promotes “food diplomacy” in the Russia-Ukraine war

Don’t take the risk to lose the area

The MENA countries, especially Egypt and Lebanon, which rely heavily on wheat and fertilizers from Ukraine and Russia have faced spikes in prices.

According to Reuters, European Union (EU) aims to address rising wheat and fertilizer prices and expected shortages in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and the Balkans with “food diplomacy.”

A European Union diplomat said that food insecurity is causing concern in vulnerable countries in these regions.

The diplomat added that food insecurity poses a potential threat to EU influence.

Meanwhile, Russia called the crisis a consequence of Western sanctions against Russia. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Western sanctions have increased the global food crisis and spiraled energy prices.

The MENA countries, especially Egypt and Lebanon, depend heavily on wheat and fertilizers from Ukraine and Russia. These countries have faced price spikes after supplies fell when Russia began a special military operation in Ukraine.

“We cannot risk losing the region,” said another European diplomat.

New initiative

The 27-member bloc also wants to promote international efforts to mitigate the impact of shortages and will soon announce new initiatives with the United Nations World Food Program.

France, the EU’s largest agricultural producer, has promoted the “FARM” initiative, which includes a global food distribution mechanism for poorer countries.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters after a meeting between EU officials and UN food agencies in Rome, Italy on April 12 that France aims to secure an international agreement on this initiative before the end of the EU presidency in June.

Hungary has proposed boosting EU agricultural output by changing the bloc’s climate targets. And the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) confirmed that it is considering the basis of food import financing.

However, the EU’s foreign affairs body said, working with FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu on global food insecurity was “challenging” and the EU was pressing FAO to act quickly, according to the document. of the EU as obtained by Reuters.

In the list of recommendations on the FAO website, Mr. Qu Dongyu said: “Countries that depend on food imports from Russia and Ukraine should look for alternative suppliers to cushion the shock.”

Specific support

“It is not sanctions that are creating the risk of future food crises” but Russia’s launch of an operation in Ukraine, according to the French foreign minister.

The European Union’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said that Russia attacked ports and bombed wheat warehouses in Ukraine, making it difficult for agricultural products to be transported. Several fuel storage facilities in Ukraine were also bombed. While wheat storage facilities are full, Ukraine cannot export because of a lack of fuel, EU officials say. For its part, Russia has also restricted wheat exports.

According to the officials, the EU is trying to create favorable conditions for food exports to Poland and to support the supply of fuel to Ukrainian farmers to improve the situation.

The EU is also providing financial support to the most vulnerable countries. Last week, the EU announced aid of 225 million euros ($244 million) for the Middle East and North Africa. Nearly half of these will go to Egypt, while Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco and Palestine will receive emergency funds of between 15 and 25 million euros ($16.2 million to $27.1 million) each. .

According to EU officials, another 300 million euros ($324.8 million) in agricultural assistance will be provided to the Western Balkan countries as part of regular EU funding for the region.