We, Ukrainian farmers, are encouraged by strong messages of support to our country, made public today in the answers of Commissioners-designate for Trade and Economic Security, and for Enlargement, Agriculture and Rural Development Maroš Šefčovič, Marta Kos and Christoph Hansen.

“Ukraine is fighting for our freedom every day and I commit to work for its freedom too, including by engaging in its accession to the EU,” – these words by Commissioner-Designate Marta Kos bear strong testament to her deep understanding of the geopolitical importance of the EU support to Ukraine in her struggle against the Russian aggression, as well as her challenging path toward the EU membership. Her commitment to supporting Ukraine through “the implementation of the Ukraine Facility and reforms linked with the Ukraine Plan, as well as work on the reconstruction of Ukraine in cooperation with our partners and through the Ukraine Donor Platform” are commendable.

We also welcome Commissioner-Designate Maroš Šefčovič’s commitment to “… continue to work to support Ukraine including by leveraging the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) and the EU’s financial assistance to foster Ukraine’s gradual integration into the internal market ahead of accession”, according to his answers to the questions by the Members of the European Parliament.

We agree with the right next steps in this direction, as proposed by Mr. Šefčovič, to replace the temporary EU ATMs “…by a permanent and reciprocal further trade liberalization, as foreseen under the DCFTA, … leading to a permanent basis meaningful market access for Ukrainian products linked to gradual compliance with relevant EU standards”. However, it is important that the negotiations on the new trade arrangement with Ukraine are concluded in time before the ATMs expiry, to avoid the shock of automatic reversal to obsolete pre-2022 trade quotas.

In this respect we appreciate the position by Commissioner Designate Christoph HANSEN that the objective of the future trade liberalization arrangement is “to give Ukrainian operators continued opportunities for exporting agri-food products to the EU, while at the same time responding to the concerns of EU stakeholders, particularly on specific sectors where increased imports from Ukraine may adversely affect the situation on the markets.”  While linking the market opening to Ukraine’s gradual compliance with relevant EU production standards is a fair approach, we urge the Commissioner-Designate and the Commission services to proceed on the basis of facts and figures of the real influence of the Ukrainian agricultural imports on the EU agrifood market and the EU agricultural sector, also taking into account long-term benefits for Europe’s food security and global competitive position as food exporter.

We are also grateful to the Members of the European Parliament AFET, INTA and AGRI committees for their questions to the Commissioners Designate as strong evidence of their unwavering to Ukraine.

As UCAB President Alex Lissitsa said, “we have strong trust in the Commissioners’-Designate political will to support Ukraine and integrate it quickly in the EU. In this way, Ukraine’s potential to strengthen Europe as a global agrifood player will be fully realized. UCAB via its Brussels office will be delighted to offer its expertise and support”.