Ukraine has launched the practical stage of preparations for EU accession. Regarding the agricultural block, it is necessary to prepare the industry to operate under the rules of the single European market and fulfill 16 indicators. This was reported by the Ministry of Economy, adding that difficult reforms and access to 440 million new consumers lie ahead, UNN reports.
Details
The ministry noted that the Government expects to launch substantive discussions on the agricultural sector in the fall. Participants of the expert discussion "Eurointegration on the Line: Agriculture and Rural Development" discussed the financial, environmental, and institutional changes required for the integration of the Ukrainian agro-industrial complex into the EU.
The Ministry of Economy added that Cluster 5 ("Resources and Agriculture") is considered one of the most difficult in the negotiation process. Ukraine is a powerful global player, and European farmers fear direct competition. The agricultural core of the cluster consists of three chapters, under which Ukraine must fulfill 16 benchmarks (indicators):
- Chapter 11 "Agriculture and Rural Development," covering the rules of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and direct support mechanisms;
- Chapter 12 "Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Policy" with strict control standards from "farm to fork";
- Chapter 13 "Fisheries and Aquaculture."
The first critical test for Ukraine will be large-scale environmental modernization and the harmonization of pesticide use rules with the requirements of the European Green Deal.
Environmental reform of plant protection products will directly affect at least 10 million hectares of cultivated land—nearly 40% of all agricultural land in controlled territories. According to association estimates, such a technological restructuring will cost Ukrainian agribusiness about 2 billion euros annually. At the same time, environmental modernization is a necessary condition for long-term access of Ukrainian products to the European market and will contribute to increasing safety for the environment and rural areas,
The ministry added that the next difficult track will be negotiations on subsidies. The EU spends about a third of its total budget on supporting farmers. Including Ukraine in the current subsidy system would create a critical burden on the European budget. Because of this, one of the main topics of negotiations will be transition periods and special protection programs specifically for small and medium-sized farmers in Ukraine.
In parallel, Ukraine needs to create the infrastructure for implementing the EU Common Agricultural Policy. This refers to a Paying Agency for auditing and distributing European funds and an integrated monitoring system based on the State Agrarian Register (SAR). To launch this system, it is necessary to staff it with 250-400 qualified specialists. According to EU requirements, this must be an exclusively state structure with permanent funding from the state budget. In wartime conditions, this is a serious challenge for the budget,
While negotiations on the agricultural sector are being prepared for launch, the Government and relevant associations are forming a strong evidence base and detailed economic calculations. Ukraine plans to defend national interests in Brussels based on clear figures, analysis of the impact of reforms on producers, and strengthening partnerships between Ukrainian and European industry associations. In the coming months, the Government will focus on promoting a series of legislative initiatives, particularly regarding plant protection products, veterinary welfare, feed safety, and organic production, harmonized with EU legislation, the Ministry of Economy summarized.