Within the framework of Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) 2025, Andrii Dykun, Chairman of the Ukrainian Agri Council, took part in a meeting with representatives of Ukrainian and German agricultural associations with the participation of Vitalii Koval, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, and Cem Özdemir, Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture of Germany, to discuss the Ukrainian approach to European integration of the agricultural sector. 

On behalf of Ukrainian agrarians, the Chairman of the UAC thanked the partners for their support and emphasized that Ukrainian farmers do not go to the EU for subsidies. Ukraine's accession to the EU is a worldview choice of Ukrainian society, not an attempt to get support for Ukrainian farmers at the expense of the EU's common budget.

“Today, agriculture and processing industry in Ukraine accounts for 30% of our country's GDP and 60% of foreign exchange earnings. We don't need any subsidies from the EU because the agricultural sector in Ukraine has always been a profitable business. Historically, we have large companies with more than 10 thousand hectares of land under cultivation, but they account for only 20% of all agricultural producers. The foundation of the agricultural sector is small and medium-sized businesses, which account for 80%. Changes in legislation will significantly affect their work. Today, Ukraine is already being forced to adopt European integration laws, which the EU countries themselves may soon abandon, as the common agricultural policy is changing and being reformed. That is why Ukraine needs a significant transition period to remain competitive and prepare to work under the regulatory conditions under which European farmers will work,” said Andrii Dykun. 

The Chairman of the UAC noted that due to the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has lost many markets, and in the future, farmers will have to compete with Russians for them. At the same time, Ukraine continues to ensure food security in the world, especially in the Middle East and Africa. Food availability for the population of these countries is a prerequisite for preventing a new wave of migration crisis in the EU.

Following the meeting, the participants agreed to create a joint platform for discussing important issues between Ukrainian and German associations.

The UAC would like to thank our partners and colleagues for the fruitful meeting and the development of joint solutions. We are ready for further cooperation and expertise to develop strategic areas of cooperation between Ukraine and Germany in the agricultural sector