The European Commission is preparing lawsuits against Poland, Hungary and Slovakia: what is the reason?
31 October 14:41
The European Commission is considering filing legal action against Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia for maintaining unilateral bans on imports of Ukrainian goods despite the updated EU-Ukraine trade agreement.
This was reported by Politico, according to [ komersant].
Brussels emphasizes that such actions violate the rules of the single market, which prohibit national barriers to trade.
“We see no reason to maintain these national measures,” said Olof Gill, a deputy spokesman for the European Commission.
“All options are on the table,” he added, answering a question about the possible opening of infringement proceedings.
How countries ignore EU rules
Despite Brussels’ attempts to restore free trade with Ukraine, Warsaw, Budapest, and Bratislava continue to restrict imports of Ukrainian grain and some agricultural products.
Such decisions are made at the national level, for political reasons, in particular under pressure from agricultural lobbies that fear competition with Ukrainian producers.
In Brussels, this is perceived as a challenge to the EU’s authority and an attempt to put national interests above the bloc’s common policy.
What does the updated agreement provide for?
on October 29, 2025, amendments to the tariff schedules in trade between Ukraine and the EU came into force.
They preserve the access of Ukrainian goods to the European market, but with updated quotas and flexible protective mechanisms for EU farmers.
The previous “trade visa-free regime,” which temporarily abolished duties and quotas, expired in June 2025.
After that, the European Commission introduced a revised tariff system, which was supported by most member states – except for a few Eastern European ones.
What it means for Ukraine
Ukraine remains one of the key suppliers of agricultural products to the EU – despite quotas, exports of grains and oilseeds are the mainstay of Ukrainian exports to the EU.
However, the persistence of national bans in neighboring countries complicates logistics and may affect the income of Ukrainian exporters.
Economists warn that if the countries do not remove the restrictions, Brussels may resort to legal action, and Ukraine may lose some of its trade advantages.
“Trade visa-free regime” and political tensions
The EU’s first autonomous trade measures for Ukraine came into force in June 2022, when all duties and quotas were temporarily abolished.
They were extended twice, but in 2025, the “visa-free regime” ended, and some quotas were restored.
The European Commission estimates that the loss of trade benefits will cost Ukraine about $700 million in 2025.
In Poland, government parties are traditionally sensitive to the position of farmers who protest against Ukrainian grain.
