Ukraine’s accession to the EU will boost overall economic growth – European Commissioner

Issues related to the agricultural sector and competition in the EU market remain complex

Ukraine’s membership in the European Union in the current geopolitical situation can become a powerful impetus for economic growth and strengthening security.

This was stated by European Commissioner for Economic Affairs Valdis Dombrovskis.

“This is a win-win scenario. Ukraine as a strong player becomes part of the EU, in particular in the field of security, and its potential can strengthen economic dynamics,” he emphasized during his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Dombrovskis recalled that the EU has already granted Ukraine the status of a candidate country and has started accession negotiations, which creates an important political “anchor” for reforms and forms a clear European perspective for the country in the medium and long term.

He also noted that concerns about the “ability of the EU to absorb” a large country like Ukraine are exaggerated. As an example, he cited the 2004 enlargement, when 10 countries joined the Union, including Poland, which has a comparable population and economy.

At the same time, Dombrovskis acknowledged that difficult issues remain, in particular regarding the agricultural sector and competition in the EU market. Such discussions have recently intensified during the introduction of autonomous trade measures, which caused tension among farmers in Poland and a number of other countries.

The European Commissioner separately emphasized that the return of the issue of enlargement to the active agenda, including Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans, also means a discussion on how the EU will function as an association of more than 30 countries, taking into account existing problems, in particular the veto rights of individual member states.

Tags: EU, Ukraine