A working meeting was held between relevant agricultural associations and businesses and Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Taras Kachka. The participants discussed key challenges related to adapting the agricultural sector to EU requirements.

During the discussion, Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC) Mykhailo Sokolov highlighted the risks for Ukrainian producers in the process of implementing European standards.

“For us, the key question is how Ukraine will maintain competitiveness in third-country markets if, even before EU accession, we implement restrictions that our competitors do not face. It is equally important to understand what the model for applying the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will be, as it предусматривает support only for the smallest producers, who cultivate no more than 15% of Ukraine’s agricultural land,” he noted.

In response, Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka emphasized that EU integration is a strategic and non-alternative choice for Ukraine. According to him, compliance with European requirements, particularly regarding plant protection products, is a necessary condition for advancing the negotiation process.

The government representative stressed that the pace and outcomes of integration directly depend on meeting the defined criteria, and that potential economic losses are viewed as part of the transformation that other EU candidate countries have undergone — losses that may later be offset by increased exports to countries with which the EU has free trade agreements.

Participants also emphasized the importance of joint work between the government and business on implementation plans and the definition of transition periods for sensitive segments of agricultural production.