Ukraine should prepare for accession to the European Union in a timely and balanced manner, given the key role of the agricultural sector in the country's economy. This was stated by the Chairman of the Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC) Andrii Dykun during the discussion “Ukraine's European Integration in the Agricultural Sector: How to Stay in the Mainstream of Changes in the EU”.

He emphasized that the agricultural sector is the driving-force of the Ukrainian economy, as it has been contributing up to 20% of the country's GDP for the fourth year of the full-scale invasion.

“We are interested in the European market because it is a premium market. However, before joining the EU, Ukraine remains a powerful player in the global food market. We actively export products to Asia, Africa and other countries. This is critically important for us,” said the UAC Chairman.

According to him, if Ukraine joins the EU, experts estimate that 15-30% of Ukrainian agricultural products will be supplied to Europe, while the rest will continue to be supplied to world markets. One of Ukraine's key competitors is Russia, which has displaced Ukrainian products from 20 African countries during the full-scale war.

“Our task is not to compete with Europe, but to restore our position in the global market. The EU needs Ukraine, because we can provide food to Africa and thus help Europe stop the next wave of migration,” emphasized the UAC Сhairman.

According to Andrii Dykun, Ukrainian legislation should be adapted to EU norms, but this process should be balanced.

“We can work in two legislative systems: one part of the agricultural sector will be oriented to the European market, the other - to global markets. At the same time, we should not blindly copy European legislation, because the EU's common agricultural policy is changing, and no one knows what it will be like when Ukraine joins,” he concluded.