Denys Marchuk, the UAC Deputy Chairman, took part in the event "Ukrainian Agriculture - Sustainable Development Potential in the Context of European Integration" in Brussels, with the support of the German-Ukrainian Agricultural Policy Dialogue project.

The participants of the event discussed the process of Ukraine's European integration and adjustment of agricultural and trade policy according to the EU requirements, the professional activities and role of agricultural associations in the European Union, etc.

According to Denys Marchuk, Ukrainian agricultural producers need to maximize communication with representatives of the EU institutions to ensure effective European integration and raise awareness of European colleagues about the real impact of Ukrainian agribusiness on European markets, as well as to solve the problem of logistics of export and transit of Ukrainian agricultural products.

"It is obvious that the European perspective of Ukraine's further development is one of the priorities of our country and the agricultural sector, as a key industry for the economy, requires the greatest attention from the representatives of Ukraine and the EU members. For effective European integration, we must be focused on European standards and follow EU requirements, but at the same time, we must protect the interests of our agricultural producers and explain to our European colleagues that together we can strengthen global food security and strengthen the EU market," said Denys Marchuk.

Particular attention was paid to the presentation of Martin Bense, Director of the Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute (Federal Research Institute for Rural Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries) on the current challenges of agrarian business and trade (results of agricultural market modeling). He presented 4 models of access to the EU market for Ukrainian agricultural products, in particular: in the case of full liberalization between the EU and Ukraine (free trade), in the case of full liberalization and extension of EU external protection to Ukraine (common market), in the case of taking into account the population decline of -26% in the baseline study of demographic trends and free trade, in the case of taking into account the level of production in Ukraine in 2022 in the baseline study and free trade.

The Ukrainian delegation was also represented by Oleksandr Starynets, Head of the Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy, who noted that despite the war, since Ukraine received the candidate status, the Parliament has adopted 6 comprehensive European integration laws prepared by the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. In particular, in the areas of protection of rights to plant varieties, seed and seedling production, materials and objects in contact with food, geographical indications of alcoholic beverages, pesticides and agrochemicals, food security and livestock development.

The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine and the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the CCI, specialized associations and industry experts, as well as representatives of European specialized organizations, the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development and the European Commission's Directorate-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations.

The event was held as part of the professional and educational trip "Sustainable Development of the Agricultural Sector of Ukraine in the Context of Modern European Integration Challenges".