The memory of EU accession makes Poles create obstacles for Ukrainian agricultural products

Ukraine is in intensive negotiations with Poland to unblock the border, but Polish colleagues insist on quotas and transition periods to limit the access of Ukrainian products to markets.

“Farmers are currently facing two challenges: climate policy and Ukraine. And even before we negotiate accession to the EU, we are in a situation where European farmers say that we need starting conditions for negotiations. In our opinion, free trade is a normal starting point for negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU,” says Taras Kachka, Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Representative of Ukraine.

He adds that there is no need to impose restrictions on the EU, as Ukraine does not pose a threat to the European market. There are certain export volumes of agricultural products, but Ukraine will not increase them.

He adds that there is no need to impose restrictions on the part of the EU, as Ukraine does not pose a threat to the European market. There are certain export volumes of agricultural products, but Ukraine will not increase them.

“Now they say that we need as many restrictions as possible. This is because the EU and farmers are already thinking about the next generation of their agricultural policy. This is the time of the European Parliament elections and the formation of the European Commission. In addition, the Poles want to squeeze us into the restrictions they had when joining the EU – production quotas, transition periods for receiving subsidies,” says Taras Kachka.

According to him, the pressure against Ukrainian agricultural products is an anomalous story that is guided by the Poles’ memory of their own accession to the EU.

Tags: Ukraine, EU, Poland, restrictions