Ukraine and Slovakia reach deal on grain as Brussels threatens legal action against unilateral bans

euronews ^ | 9/21/23 | Jorge Liboreiro

[Redmen4ever]

Kyiv [capital of Ukraine] and Bratislava [capital of Slovakia] on Thursday struck a preliminary deal to resolve the ongoing dispute over Ukrainian cereals.

[Redmen4ever]

In recent days, four eastern European countries have taken steps to prevent the dumping of Ukrainian grain in their markets (hurting local farmers). It now looks like a possible diplomatic solution will be negotiated involving the regulation of trade in grain, rather than a ban. A better solution would be the resumption of trade exports via the Black Sea to Turkey and markets beyond. But, we have to be realistic. Democratic nations, respecting each other's legitimate interests, should be able to work out their problems.

[mac_truck]

Sovereign nations do not take orders from unelected bureaucrats in other countries.

Lets see if this deal stands when there's a new government in Bratslava.

[Redmen4ever]

Slovakia enjoys many benefits from being in the EU. Anytime it wants, it could withdraw from the deal. Alternately, its members of the European Parliament can seek changes, needing support from others. In the mean time, we expect problems to arise from time to time, for example, in trade. And, we have processes to address these problems.

[mac_truck]

Slovakia enjoys many benefits from being in the EU.

Name them...I doubt they are more 'beneficial' then the ability to determine their own economic destiny.

No wonder they're kicking their current government to the curb.

[Sequoyah101]

Guess what? Nobody is going to starve for some bunch of powdered bureaucrats and politicians in Brussels.

[Redmen4ever]

Please don’t be so stupid.

Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, GDP per capita, ppp basis, has more than doubled in Slovakia.

Slovakia has a democratic government, with meaningful elections. As part of Czechoslovakia, it was a communist country without civil liberty or political freedom. Today, it scores highly in Freedom House’s assessment of freedom in the world.

In terms of crime, clean air and water, the freedom to travel throughout the EU, and IQ (yes, IQ), Slovakia has tremendously improved.

There are some reasons why a person wouldn’t intuitively know that a country that has embraced democracy and a free-market economy is doing well. One is that they only know what they are told by the educational and media establishment; namely, that capitalism is bad. Another reason is that they are paid by Putin.

I am supposing you’re in the first category and, so, can learn: democracy and capitalism good. authoritarianism and socialism bad.

BTW Poland and Ukraine are also making kissy face. Presidents of both places are saying the grain thing was overblown by Russian propaganda. Yes, Zelensky says Poland has a legitimate interest in protecting its farmers from dumping. Yes, Duda says Poland supports Ukraine in its struggle for independence.