EC team visiting Romania to ease Ukraine grain exports

The team will visit the southern Romanian port cities of Constanta and Galati to discuss means to tackle bottlenecks, increase handling capacity, improve transit and streamline procedures and controls to allow Ukraine to export grain via the EU as an alternative to the Black Sea ports following Russia stepping out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and threatening transport in the Black Sea, the Commission said in a press release on Thursday.

Over 60% of Ukrainian grain could be exported via Romania following Russia’s exit from a UN-brokered deal guaranteeing safe passage for exports through the Black Sea, Romanian prime minister Marcel Ciolacu said last month. Romania will focus on developing its transit capacity through existing corridors such as the Sulina Canal and the port of Constanta.

In Constanta, the team led by Michael Hager, head of cabinet of executive vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis, will meet with representatives of the government, the Constanta Port Authority, and customs representatives, the Commission said. They will also meet with representatives of operators, transporters, and grain traders in the port.

In Galati, the team will visit the port and meet with representatives of the Danube River Administration, Galati port authorities, and pilots.