The European Union (E.U.) disapproves of Ukraine’s participation in negotiations to establish the ‘grain OPEÑ’, a partnership of Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine for pursuing a common policy on the world grain market, according to UKRINFORM.
E.U. Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Mariann Fischer Boel made the statement on June 16 following the completion of negotiations with Ukraine’s Agricultural Policy Minister Yuriy Melnyk.
According to Boel, the E.U. does not approve Ukraine’s participation in the grain pool because Ukraine is a World Trade Organization member while Russia and Kazakhstan are not members. Melnyk said on June 7, at the World Grain Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia that the Ukraine is ready to enter the grain pool jointly with Russia and Kazakhstan for joint work on the world grain market.
