On March 30–31, 2026, the Third Ukrainian–Netherlands Agricultural Dialogue (UANLAD) took place in Breda (the Netherlands). The dialogue was co-organized by the Public Union “Ukrainian Agrarian Forum” (UAF), which includes the Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC), and LTO Nederland (the Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture).

During the dialogue, participants focused on the current state of Ukrainian agriculture amid the ongoing Russian aggression, adaptation to EU standards in crop and livestock production, and the practical challenges of integrating Ukraine’s agricultural sector into the EU internal market in the context of the country’s future accession to the European Union.

The parties discussed a joint position of Ukrainian agricultural associations on European integration, the expected impact of this process on the European and Dutch agricultural sectors, as well as the potential of Ukrainian agricultural production to strengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy in key food commodities.

Key outcomes of the dialogue:

1. Integration of Ukraine’s agricultural sector into the EU could have a positive long-term impact on the EU’s strategic autonomy in agricultural products critical for food security, by strengthening the production of goods that are currently less represented in the EU.
2. Ukrainian and Dutch agri-food production can be complementary, opening the way for synergy and enhancing the competitiveness of both countries’ agri-food products on European and global markets.
3. The parties agree that, as long as Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine continues, maintaining open but managed trade in agri-food products between the EU and Ukraine is critically important for the economic resilience of Ukraine’s agricultural sector and the national economy as a whole.
4. LTO understands and supports the need for continued assistance to Ukrainian farmers, as well as the importance of sufficient transition and derogation periods on Ukraine’s path to EU membership, along with appropriate access to the EU market and the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

According to Olesia Shakalo-Olshanetska, Head of the “Women Farmers of UAC” initiative, who participated in the roundtable and thematic discussions, such international platforms allow Ukrainian farmers to already engage in shaping the future rules of the European market.

“For us, this is primarily an opportunity to better understand the approaches of European partners, anticipate future requirements for agricultural production, and build cooperation that will help Ukrainian farmers confidently operate in the EU market,” she noted.

The dialogue was attended by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Taras Kachka, UAF Director Mariia Didukh, LTO President Ger Koopmans, representatives of the governments of Ukraine and the Netherlands, as well as Ambassador of Ukraine to the Netherlands Andrii Kostin and Ambassador of the Netherlands to Ukraine Alle Dorhout.

The event was held with the support and facilitation of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of the Netherlands.