Ukrainian agriculture may be a problem in the process of European integration.
From June 6, 2025, the regime will be completed by temporary duty for Ukrainian exports. The decisions were made thanks to the appeals of several EU countries, including Poland and France, that Ukrainian imports have a negative impact on its farmers.
What is the problem with the Ukrainian agricultural sector for the EU? Senior economist Jan Okharimenko spoke about this in the evil of the only news.
Firstly, we are extremely competitive. This is due to a number of factors: we have cheaper work, large agricultural enterprises, much more than in most EU countries. This structure can significantly reduce production costs and make Ukrainian products more attractive in price.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be6xm576YFY
The second size. Ukraine owns about a quarter of all agricultural lands in Europe. Our agricultural sector is really large. And after the Second World War, agriculture in the EU was significantly transformed: in most countries there is an extensive system of subsidies, which requires many budget expenditures every year.
The main question: is the EU ready to allocate 5-10 billion euros a year to support Ukrainian farmers?
The Poles are the greatest beneficiaries of this European policy of unity. They receive significant funds from the EU political fund. But if Ukraine also receives these funds, then everything can change a lot, ”explains Yana Okhrimenko.
Ukrainian large agricultural assets can be thrown away in the European market, selling products cheaper than local farmers. If you introduce EU standards from the quality of the soil to the rules for protecting animals and fertilizers, this will increase the cost of production – and reduce our competitiveness.
But to increase standards – you need grants. But subsidies will be given only after joining the EU. And without them – to change production is too expensive. That is, we have a typical political trap: we cannot change without support, but support cannot be provided until we change.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.