EU Ambassador believes Ukraine’s agricultural sector is competitive even without EU subsidies

Ukraine can leverage its strengths in the agricultural sector in relations with third countries and does not need to participate in the subsidy system operating in the European Union. This view was expressed by EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova at a conference.

“In my view, there are enough opportunities to take agriculture out of the equation and allow Ukraine to use its competitive advantages in the agricultural sector in relations with third countries, without participating in the subsidy system that exists in the EU, and then see how the situation develops over the next few years,” she said.

At the same time, Mathernova added that Ukraine’s accession to the EU would not involve any concessions on meeting the fundamental membership criteria, particularly in the areas of the rule of law, market economy, statistics, and financial control.

“I think that in everything else, both sides need to find a way to build the European house of the future. What I mean is that this is not necessarily the position of Brussels. This is what I think while living in this country: I believe our future is closely connected, and this will also become a strategic step, a choice, and at the same time a dilemma for Europe — how to deal with a country that is not just a recipient side,” the ambassador noted.

Tags: EU, agricultural sector, Ukraine, subsidies