Farming Ministers from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Greece, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Luxembourg, Estonia, Denmark and Slovenia called for urgent “clarification” of the agreement to stop Ukraine grain entering eastern European countries. The dozen ministers say the Commission made the ruling “without consulting member states.”

Their chief concern is banning Ukraine grain from being sold in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Bulgaria undermines the European single market. The ministers also want further discussion on with countries to explain how and why €100m (£88m) was granted in aid to eastern European farmers affected by Ukraine grain flooding their domestic markets.

In a joint letter to the commission the minister said: “As in all dimensions of our support, it is imperative to ensure that the European Union is united and that our differences do not play into Russia’s hands, especially on this particular issue, where Russia is threatening not to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

READ MORE: Poland agrees to let Ukraine grain through

“We urge the Commission to return to a transparent procedure along established rules within the functioning of the EU and its member states,” the letter added.

Finland’s Antti Kurvinen said the restrictions were “causing harm” to the bloc’s united efforts to help Ukraine. Meanwhile France’s Marc Fesneau called out Poland and the others over double standards in supporting the bloc’s eastern neighbour when it came to supplying weapons and imposing sanctions on Russia, but turning their backs when it came to bearing some of the brunt. “You can’t call for solidarity and take unilateral decisions at the same time,” Fesneau said.