Marcin Hydzik, President of the Polish Dairy Processors Association (Związek Polskich Przetwórców Mleka, ZPPM), says Ukraine’s possible accession to the European Union (EU) would require reform of the entire Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). «Unfortunately, there is not even a discussion on this yet», he says, Portal Spożywczy reports.

Key points:

  • ZPPM’s Marcin Hydzik says Ukraine’s EU accession could force a reform of the CAP and new safeguard mechanisms;
  • Poland’s dairy sector is satisfied with exports to Ukraine, but other farm sectors, such as grain, view the effects of cooperation less favourably;
  • the ZPPM president calls for tough conditions and transition periods to protect farmers’ interests and Poland’s food security.

Dairy is satisfied with exports to Ukraine

Hydzik notes that each sector has its own policy and strategic interests. The dairy sector is happy with cooperation with Ukraine, as Poland has a trade surplus with Ukraine in this area.

Other farm sectors, however, such as grain, are in a worse position.

«We must say clearly that there is no single common position of Polish agriculture and food processing on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. What we must agree on, however, is that our sector cannot be taken by surprise, as happened with the Mercosur agreement. After 19 years of negotiations, that agreement was suddenly signed within just two years and without consulting the farming community. A similar situation must not be repeated with Ukraine», Hydzik says.

Tough conditions for Ukraine

The ZPPM president is convinced that the conditions Ukraine will have to meet must be clearly defined, just as they were for Poland when it joined the EU. Only once the relevant requirements are met and transition periods and safeguard mechanisms are in place can there be a chance of integrating the Ukrainian and Polish farm sectors.

«It should be stressed that this issue has several stages and levels. The first is the agricultural, that is, economic dimension. We also have to take the geopolitical situation into account. There is a concern that geopolitical considerations may outweigh economic ones. Public perception of the Ukrainian issue also matters, as does how Polish farmers will react to such negotiations», Hydzik says.

He stresses that farmers are known to be very worried about this, and everything must be done to reassure them and guarantee that their interests are properly protected.

«It should be stressed that protecting farmers’ interests is not only a matter of the profitability of their business but above all of Poland’s food security. There can be no compromises on this».

Ukraine’s agriculture and its potential must not be underestimated

«There is a roadmap for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. Although Ukraine’s current situation is not the best, we should not underestimate its agricultural sector, because really large financial resources may flow into it in the future. Ukraine has 118 agricultural holdings with more than 10,000 hectares of farmland each.

That is completely incomparable with Poland, where there are only a few such companies. I think Ukraine’s accession to the European Union would be an unprecedented event in the Community’s history. It would require special measures and a reform of the entire Common Agricultural Policy. A serious discussion on this is needed, but it has not yet begun. We are waiting for it to start», the ZPPM president says.

Source: Portal Spożywczy