EU may curb Ukraine’s access to farm subsidies and agricultural markets after accession
The European Union is considering significantly limiting Ukraine’s access to agricultural subsidies and parts of the EU farm market after its possible accession to the bloc. The proposals are included in an internal European Commission document seen by the Financial Times.
The move reflects concerns in several EU member states, including Poland, France and Italy, over the potential impact of Ukraine’s large agricultural sector on the internal market. The document says the scale, structure and high productivity of Ukrainian agriculture may require targeted arrangements for products such as wheat and other grains.
The European Commission is also considering giving Ukraine only limited access to EU farm subsidies, which total around €55 billion a year. At the same time, Brussels plans to support Ukraine in restoring access to its traditional export markets outside the EU, which have been severely disrupted by the war.
The approach is part of a broader reform of the EU enlargement process. Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and Albania, identified in the document as the most advanced candidates, are expected to receive tailored accession road maps without fixed entry dates.
The proposals would also tie access to EU funding more closely to reform progress and compliance with rule-of-law requirements. The document is still internal and under discussion within the European Commission, meaning the final terms of Ukraine’s access to EU agricultural markets and subsidies have not yet been determined.
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