EU to impose restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural products after accession, commissioner says
Phtoto: Marta Kos
The EU is considering a proposal to limit support for some Ukrainian agricultural products after the country joins the bloc. Several countries have expressed concerns about Ukrainian agricultural goods, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said, according to Bloomberg.
Restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural products
The EU wants to limit access to money and the market for Ukraine’s huge agricultural sector if the country joins the bloc.
"The structure and the size of agriculture in Ukraine is really unique, therefore, we are proposing that we do special arrangements which would limit the financial support and market access for some of the Ukrainian agricultural products, not for all," Marta Kos said.
EU commissioners discussed the idea today, October 6.
"Partial integration will be possible, and Ukraine will become a member of the EU," Kos said.
However, the EU commissioner supports protecting European farmers.
Concerns of the EU
The EU has made Ukraine’s membership a priority since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022.
However, many countries fear that Ukraine’s large agricultural sector and relatively low incomes could make it a huge beneficiary of the EU budget. This could force farmers in Poland and France to compete with Ukraine.
Ukraine’s entire agricultural sector accounts for about 20% of the country’s gross domestic product and an even larger share of its export revenues. Ukraine has about 41 million hectares of agricultural land, more than any other country in Europe.
Ukraine’s EU accession process has accelerated this year. EU member states are expected to approve new negotiating topics next week.
Any proposal to limit benefits for Ukraine’s agricultural sector would also be subject to negotiations.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that Ukraine would not receive any preferential terms or special privileges when joining the European Union, according to Kos.
It was also reported that Ukraine could receive a clear roadmap for EU accession in the form of special roadmaps.
