Ukraine and the European Commission have launched the screening process for the final cluster in the agricultural sector

On September 8, Ukraine launched screening meetings with the European Commission under Negotiation Chapter 11 “Agriculture and Rural Development”, which falls under Cluster 5 “Resources, Agriculture and Cohesion Policy.” The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration reported that this cluster is the final segment of bilateral meetings within the screening process. Ukraine has already completed bilateral sessions for clusters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. The meetings on Chapter 11 will last three days, until September 10, and are being held in a hybrid format with negotiators participating both online and offline in Brussels, Belgium.

“Agricultural policy is clearly one of the most important areas in the negotiations. That is why we pay special attention to this sector. Ukraine’s agricultural policy has been transforming for many years, updating and modernizing its practices, which allows us to actively move closer to the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy. For us, this screening session is not a beginning, but the result of many years of cooperation with the European Union. We know our strengths, we know the challenges, and today we have the opportunity to lay the foundation for further integration of Ukraine’s agricultural sector into the EU’s common policy,” said Taras Kachka, Chief Negotiator and Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.

On the first day of meetings, the delegations of Ukraine and the European Commission reviewed:

• Principles, strategy and directions of Ukraine’s agricultural policy;
• Support schemes for the agricultural sector and other types of assistance;
• National rural development policy;
• Financing of agricultural expenditures and the monitoring system;
• Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) — current state and development plans;
• Farm Sustainability Data Network (FSDN) — current status and next steps;
• Processed products.

Chapter 11 “Agriculture and Rural Development” encompasses a large number of binding EU rules, most of which will enter into force in Ukraine upon accession without the need for additional legal acts. Proper application of these rules, along with their effective enforcement and oversight by a professional public administration, is critically important for the functioning of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The Ministry noted that Ukraine has prepared everything necessary to open three negotiation clusters — “Fundamentals of the Accession Process,” “Internal Market,” and “External Relations” — and is awaiting the corresponding decision of the EU Council. Three roadmaps for reforms in the areas of the rule of law, public administration reform, and the functioning of democratic institutions have been prepared and approved (the adoption of two of them is a condition for opening EU membership negotiations under Cluster 1). Negotiation positions have also been adopted for the three respective clusters.

Ukraine has already successfully completed bilateral screening meetings for two other negotiation clusters: “Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth” and “Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity.”

Tags: Ukraine, EU