Ukraine to export no more than 20% of its agricultural output to Europe after it joins EU – official
MOSCOW. March 4 (Interfax) – The Ukrainian agricultural sector will export a maximum of 20% of its total output to the European market after Ukraine becomes a European Union member, with the rest going to traditional markets for Ukrainian agricultural products, Ukrainian Agri Council head Andrei Dikun said in an interview with local media.
Dikun said he is certain that Ukrainian agricultural enterprises’ interest in gaining access to the European market is not prompted by the prospect of subsidies from the common EU budget.
“We, Ukrainian farmers, are not going to the EU for its subsidies. Our fear of their rules outweighs our interest in their money,” he said.
Ukrainian farmers are concerned about the EU’s tough requirements for agricultural technologies, Dikun said. However, European farmers themselves are also opposed to the excessively complex rules of the European Green Deal, he said.
“Beyond any doubt, we aren’t eager to have their rules in agriculture. But the new European Parliament will change them. I am convinced that they will also amend the EU Common Agricultural Policy due to Ukraine,” Dikun said.
Ukrainian farmers respect European rules, but they need a transitional period to get used to these rules and to start following them, he said.
“There are things that I am not quite keen on […] We don’t understand when we will join [the EU],” Dikun said.