During the high-level dialogue “Agri-Sector on the Path to the EU: Where We Stand and What Lies Ahead,” held in Vinnytsia, Mykhailo Sokolov, Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC), presented the position and key demands of Ukrainian farmers.

According to him, the Ukrainian agricultural sector requires a transition period of at least 10 years to fully harmonize production standards with EU regulations. This primarily concerns the list of permitted active substances in plant protection products.

“The transition period must begin exclusively from the moment of Ukraine’s accession to the EU. At the same time, Ukrainian farmers must gain access to the instruments of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) from the very beginning of this period — with gradual scaling of support up to the level enjoyed by farmers in EU member states,” Mykhailo Sokolov emphasized.

He also drew attention to the inadmissibility of strict limitations on agricultural support based on farm size, which could effectively deprive assistance to producers cultivating up to 80% of Ukraine’s agricultural land.

“Such approaches do not allow compensation for the costs of adapting to EU standards and create structural imbalances in the agricultural sector,” the UAC Deputy Chairman noted.

The Ukrainian Agri Council stresses that preserving the competitiveness of Ukraine’s agricultural sector on non-EU markets is critically important not only for Ukraine’s economy but also for global food security.

Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products are fundamental for many countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. An increase in the production cost of Ukrainian grain due to premature and rigid implementation of European standards would not only lead to Ukraine losing its positions in these markets in favor of the Russian Federation, but would also drive up global food prices, primarily affecting the poorest countries and consumers.

Therefore, according to the UAC position, the transition to EU norms must be gradual and economically balanced. Such an approach will make it possible to preserve traditional external markets, avoid the loss of foreign currency revenues, and maintain the competitiveness of Ukraine’s agricultural sector in non-EU markets, while preventing risks to global food security and price stability in countries dependent on Ukrainian grain.