Common rules for imports: suspension of certain parts of Regulation (EU) 2015/478 as regards imports of Ukrainian products into the European Union

PURPOSE: to protect the market access conditions for imports from Ukraine.

PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: Regulation (EU) 2015/478 of the European Parliament and of the Council lays down common rules for imports originating in most third countries, including Ukraine. It also contains provisions on surveillance and safeguard measures.

Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified full-scale invasion of Ukraine has, since 24 February 2022, had a profoundly negative impact on Ukraine’s ability to trade with the rest of the world. This has been the case for iron and steel, for example, because of the occupation or destruction of iron and steel production facilities.

In these circumstances and in order to mitigate the negative economic impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, it is appropriate, for Ukraine’s benefit, to exempt Union imports originating in Ukraine from Union surveillance and safeguard measures. For this purpose, it is necessary to suspend various provisions of Regulation (EU) 2015/478 on common rules for imports from Ukraine.

CONTENT: given the economic situation in Ukraine, this proposed Regulation is intended to protect the market access conditions for imports from Ukraine by suspending certain provisions on the surveillance and safeguards in Regulation (EU) 2015/478 on common rules for imports.

The Commission will be empowered to adopt an implementing act to suspend the application of this Regulation in respect of a specific product for a period that in principle will not exceed twelve months, if imports of this product that originate in Ukraine increase to a level that contributes significantly to the serious injury or threat of serious injury to a Union industry that produces the like or directly competitive product.

The Regulation will apply for an initial period of three years and will be tacitly extended for successive periods of three years unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such an extension no later than three months before the end of each period.