Romanian and Ukrainian prime ministers have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to double transit capacity for Ukrainian grain using Romanian rail and port infrastructure.
The move comes after the EU pledged a €24m investment for Romanian ports to “facilitate transport and transit via Romanian ports that need urgent support to handle the increased traffic flows of goods.” With up to €2m per port arriving before the end of 2023, it is also expected that rail terminals on the Danube will become busier hauling grain inland.
The deal aims to ensure grain export and protect Romanian farmers’ interests. The European Commission has welcomed the bilateral initiative, which will secure the transit of Ukrainian products. The deal comes amid Ukrainian farmers demanding more restrictions on Ukrainian products and reintroduction of an import ban on grain. The Romanian-Ukrainian MoU also aims to improve shared border crossing between the two countries to meet Ukraine’s export needs. The EU has released additional funds for port infrastructure and connectivity between the two countries.
