European Parliament to consider free trade agreement with Ukraine

The Ukrainian Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry has said that the European Parliament's profile committee will consider the agreement on a free trade area with Ukraine next week.

This was said by First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy Taras Vysotskyy, commenting on the strategy to minimize the consequences of the blockade of Ukrainian borders by Polish farmers, Ukrinform reports.

"The government is actively working to extend the free trade zone with the European Union, which comes to an end on June 5 this year. It is strategically important for Ukraine, as it will give confidence and planning horizon for domestic producers," Vysotskyy said.

According to him, the potential position of the European Union and, in particular, Polish protesters depends on this agreement, among other things.

"Next week, this agreement is expected to be considered in the profile committee of the European Parliament. Therefore, our members of the government are now actively working in Brussels to ensure that the agreements are successfully implemented for Ukraine and Ukrainian farmers as one of the largest suppliers of food products to Europe," Vysotsky said.

Commenting on the situation with the border blockade, he emphasized that not only Ukrainian but also Polish producers lose a considerable part of their income from the reduction of agricultural and food trade with Ukraine.

"The European Union countries still need food imports from third countries, so we hope that our logical arguments will allow the situation to be resolved before the protesters, as announced, return to blocking the borders again. The economies of both countries are suffering. In February, due to the border blockade, the Ukrainian budget, for example, did not receive UAH 8 billion, and since the previous protests, i.e. since November last year, the losses are estimated at UAH 20 billion," Vysotskyy said.

He also condemned Poland's decision to extend the import of Agro-products from the aggressor country.

"About the import of Agro-products of European countries from the aggressor country there is a corresponding statement of our government about the unacceptability of such trade because it supports the ability to aggression. We hope that European colleagues will listen to us and the ban on trade with Russia will be applied," Vysotskyy said.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 04/03/2024