European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has said Ukraine will become part of the European Union’s (EU) agricultural policy under a special model, continuing to export grain to its traditional markets in North Africa and Asia rather than to Europe, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
A special model for Ukraine’s agriculture
«As for the special arrangements for Ukrainian agriculture: Ukraine will become part of the European agricultural policy in a special format, or under a special model. The details will be discussed between the member states and, of course, Ukraine. It is the member states that will set the specific terms during Ukraine’s accession negotiations under Cluster 5», she said.
Kos was speaking on Tuesday in Luxembourg at a press conference following the fourth intergovernmental conference on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
The European Commission has previously proposed special terms for Ukraine’s EU membership in agri-food products, notably grain, insisting that exports continue to flow to Ukraine’s traditional markets, mainly in North Africa.
Protecting EU farmers and traditional markets
Kos said the EU aims to «protect our farmers and at the same time help Ukraine sell its products on traditional markets».
«We believe in Ukraine’s European future and want to ensure that its membership brings maximum benefit to both Ukraine and the European Union. That is why these special arrangements, on the one hand, protect European farmers and, on the other, support the further development of Ukraine’s agricultural sector — not only through adaptation to our agricultural policy rules, but also through the opportunity to export products to Africa, Asia and the Middle East», the commissioner explained.
Source: Interfax-Ukraine
