European Farmers' Organizations Acknowledge Updated EU–Ukraine Trade Agreement, Call for Transparency and Protection of Sensitive Sectors

According to a press release shared with infoFERMA Magazine, European farmers’ organizations have acknowledged the recent announcement regarding the updated trade agreement between the European Union and Ukraine. The statement reads:

"We acknowledge today’s announcement regarding the updated trade agreement between the European Union and Ukraine. Our sectors need certainty, predictability, and truly fair competition conditions in order to remain viable.

While we support Ukraine’s economic resilience and its European future during this difficult time, given the limited information currently available, we can only hope that the final outcome of today’s announced agreement will also fully consider and respect the sensitivities of EU farmers and producers.

In this regard, we urge the European Commission to make all details of the agreement publicly available as soon as possible.

While we are encouraged by some aspects presented today, including the alignment of standards and the implementation of safeguard mechanisms—especially their impact at the member state level—we remain concerned about how sensitive sectors will be protected and the potential exclusion of certain products, such as barley or ethanol, from such safeguard mechanisms.

We look forward to reviewing the full details of this new agreement in principle. In the meantime, we wish to emphasize that a sustainable and fair partnership with Ukraine must protect both our farmers and producers, as well as our shared long-term objectives."

Signed on behalf of the following organizations:

• AVEC – Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade in the EU Countries
• CEFS – European Association of Sugar Manufacturers
• CEPM – European Confederation of Maize Production
• CIBE – International Confederation of European Beet Growers
• COPA-COGECA – The united voice of farmers and their cooperatives in the European Union
• ePURE – European Renewable Ethanol Association
• EUWEP – European Union of Wholesale with Eggs, Egg Products, Poultry, and Game