European Commission will not change the draft trade agreement with Ukraine despite the comments of some EU countries

The European Commission does not plan to amend the text of the new trade agreement with Ukraine, which has already been agreed with Kyiv, despite reservations expressed by individual member states. This was stated by the European Commission spokesman Olof Hill at a briefing on July 24.

When asked by a journalist whether the European Commission intends to amend the text of the agreement already agreed with Kyiv before the vote in the EU Council, taking into account the comments of the five EU member states, the spokesman replied: “The vote will take place on the agreed text, it will not be reopened (for editing, – ed.)”.

However, the spokesman could not name the exact planned date of the vote on the new trade agreement with Ukraine, designed to replace the autonomous trade measures, which expired on June 5, 2025.

As Ukrinform reported, the completion of negotiations with Ukraine on the revision of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between the EU and Ukraine was announced on June 30 at a press conference in Brussels by European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič and European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christoph Hansen.

The parties reached an agreement in principle on the revision of the provisions on trade liberalization within the framework of the Association Agreement.

Compared to the quotas in force since June 6, the conditions for Ukrainian producers have improved – the parties agreed on the liberalization of trade in a number of agricultural products. In particular, this concerns an increase in quotas for most agricultural products, in particular for such “critical products” as poultry meat, eggs, sugar, wheat. The agreement also provides for the liberalization of imports of some dairy products and processed fruit products.

According to media reports, several EU member states, mostly Ukraine’s neighbors, have expressed concerns about the draft new agreement, saying it could destabilize European agricultural markets.

Tags: Ukraine, EU