Romania and Ukraine signed an agreement on the transit of Ukrainian products

At the end of the joint session of the governments of the two countries, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal signed an agreement on "ensuring the safe transit of Ukrainian products and the development of border crossings between Ukraine and Romania, along with related road infrastructure".

By the end of 2023, Romania will double its transit capacity for grain from Ukraine, Marcel Ciolacu said. “Together, we managed to find a way to both facilitate the transit of grain and protect the interests of Romanian farmers.”

The European Commission welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, stating that the document would "further increase the capacity of the solidarity lanes", especially in light of the damage caused to Ukrainian transport infrastructure as a result of Russia's aggression.

Romania plays a fundamental role in the functioning of the Solidarity Belts and cooperates constructively with all parties involved, said the Commission, reiterating its continued support for the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Belts and the Ukrainian Grain Export Action Plan, in particular by facilitating cross-border connections and transport operations.

The memorandum also outlines plans to improve border crossings between Ukraine and Romania, an initiative aimed at meeting Ukraine's immediate import and export needs, firmly anchoring it in the EU's transport network.

From March 2022 to September 2023, more than 51.5 million tons of cereals, oil seeds and related products, as well as more than 42 million tons of non-agricultural products (ore, iron and steel, wood) left Ukraine through the Solidarity Belts. They enabled the export of approximately 60 percent. Ukrainian grain from the beginning of the war.