Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and his Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal, signed an agreement in Kyiv on Wednesday to ensure the secure transit of Ukrainian products and the development of border crossings between Ukraine and Romania, according to Euractiv.
By the end of 2023, Romania will double the transit capacity for grain from Ukraine, Ciolacu said. “Together, we managed to find a way to facilitate both grain transit and to protect the interests of Romanian farmers,” he added.
The European Commission welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, stating that the document “will further enhance the capacity of the solidarity lanes”, particularly in light of the damages inflicted on Ukraine’s transport infrastructure following Russia’s aggression.
“Romania plays an essential role in the functioning of the solidarity lanes and cooperates constructively with all involved parties”, the Commission said, reiterating its ongoing support for the implementation of EU-Ukraine solidarity lanes and the Ukrainian action plan for exporting grains, primarily by facilitating cross-border connections and transport operations.
The memorandum also outlines plans to improve border crossings between Ukraine and Romania, an initiative designed to meet Ukraine’s immediate import and export needs, firmly anchoring it within the EU transportation network.
Between March 2022 and September 2023, over 51.5 million tonnes of grain, oilseeds, and related products and over 42 million tonnes of non-agricultural products (ores, iron and steel, wood) have left Ukraine through the Solidarity Lanes. They enabled the export of around 60% of Ukraine’s grain since the start of the war.