Ukraine may have to sacrifice its agricultural sector to join the EU – POLITICO
If Ukraine wants to join the European Union, it may have to freeze its agricultural sector. This is reported by POLITICO.
When Ukrainian farmers look to the post-war future, they see themselves as part of the EU, freely selling goods in the single market, but this will not happen if countries like Poland achieve their goal.
Ukraine’s EU neighbors are restricting massive exports of agricultural products such as corn, poultry, and sugar. The EU has approved stricter restrictions as part of temporary trade liberalization. They were agreed after weeks of debate among the 27 EU member states.
Polish MEP Andrzej Galicki said that the restrictions are needed to correct the “inequality” in the trade balance between Ukraine and the EU. Ukrainian officials called the new restrictions unjustified.
The facts are in favor of Ukraine’s position. Its products are in high demand in the EU food industry, while European farmers, who provide a small share of the economy, are the only group that is demanding restrictions. Furthermore, there is no evidence that EU farmers suffer from competition from Ukraine.
The restrictions underscore the irony that EU countries are hindering Ukrainian exports while encouraging Ukraine to move closer to the EU.
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