Kyiv is ready for transition periods and quotas, but not for permanent restrictions, the minister stressed
Ukraine cannot accept an EU membership model that permanently restricts its food sales to the bloc, Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Taras Vysotskyi has told Politico.
He said Kyiv is ready for transition periods, quotas and other temporary limits on sensitive farm goods, provided they have a defined end date.
«There is a fundamental difference between a transition period and a permanent restriction,» he said, adding that permanent limits would contradict the logic of full membership.
The Commission’s proposals
They envisage targeted mechanisms that would restrict financial support and market access for Ukraine’s sensitive agricultural goods, citing the scale and productivity of its farm sector, and steer its exports towards «historical» markets in Africa and the Middle East.
Not only a rival for European farmers
Vysotskyi argued that Ukraine should not be seen solely as competition for EU farmers. In his view it could help the bloc cut dependence on third-country imports of fertilisers, soybeans and feed components, give European firms wider access to Black Sea export routes and serve as an investment base for agricultural processing.
«Our goal is to achieve membership with a sector that will sell Europe not only grain and other raw materials,» he said, pointing also to feed, ingredients, processed products and biofuel.
Vysotskyi confirmed Ukraine is open to transition periods — which could include phasing in farm support, temporary quotas and safeguards for sensitive products. But he maintained that they must have an end date.
Source: Politico
