Does Ukraine joining the EU threaten Polish farms? As top agrar Polska reports, MEP Elżbieta Łukacijewska reassures farmers that the accession process will be long and Ukraine must first end the war and meet all EU requirements before full membership becomes possible.
Agriculture will be one of the most difficult chapters
The start of Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations in June opened a new chapter in Brussels–Kyiv relations — but not an imminent one.
Accession covers dozens of negotiating chapters, each requiring alignment with EU law.
Agriculture will be among the most complex: Ukraine has around 41 million hectares of agricultural land and was one of the world’s largest grain exporters before the war.
Ukraine faces a very long road
MEP Łukacijewska argues that fears about Ukraine joining the EU quickly are exaggerated.
“I want to reassure people, because Ukraine’s path will certainly be very, very long,” — she stresses, noting that Ukraine must first end the war and implement EU legislation.
Full membership remains a prospect of many years, not the near future.
Polish farmers ask about fair competition
The main concerns involve differences in production costs and regulations — plant protection products, environmental requirements, and labour costs. Łukacijewska insists there will be no room for double standards after accession:
“There is absolutely no possibility that different food safety and production standards than EU standards would apply.”
The black scenario? Not necessarily
Łukacijewska does not share the darkest scenarios for European agriculture.
“I remember when Poland joined the EU. The same fears were expressed by farmers and politicians from Germany, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands,” she recalls.
Such arguments arise at every accession process.
Key declaration on Ukrainian grain
The most concrete commitment concerns Ukrainian grain imports — a main driver of farmer protests across the EU.
“We, as Poland, are working very hard for strong, tough safeguards that ensure our agriculture is properly protected,” she says.
Asked whether current restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports should be maintained:
“I believe they should be extended further.”
Source: top agrar Polska
