Ukraine may follow Poland’s path in EU accession by temporarily waiving farm subsidies — Kachka
Ukraine is ready to consider temporarily waiving agricultural subsidies upon joining the EU in order to ease tensions among member states and accelerate negotiations. Such an approach provides for a transition period with gradual integration into the system of farmer support, similar to what other countries implemented in the past, said Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka in an interview with UPravda.
“In this regard, Ukraine could follow the path once taken by Poland. Polish farmers began receiving full subsidies only 10–15 years after joining the EU,” Kachka said.
A similar transition period is also possible for Ukraine. There are different scenarios: the country could spend 2–3 years negotiating all conditions before accession, or it could join the EU first and agree on agricultural terms in parallel within those 2–3 years, he noted.
According to Kachka, the position is that agreements on agriculture will be reached — with gradual integration, as was the case for other member states. However, there is no point in delaying accession negotiations until all details are finalised: first the agreement is signed, and the specifics are worked out afterwards.
“Such an approach also helps ease tensions within the EU, particularly in Poland, Spain, and other countries where agricultural issues are traditionally sensitive. The EU even has special mechanisms for such cases — for example, the so-called ‘Strawberry Regulation,’ which determines actions in cases of physical destruction of goods at borders between member states. Similar situations occurred between France and Spain during their integration process,” Kachka said.
He added that Ukraine has already passed the first stage of emotional tension, particularly following the 2023 disputes with Poland and other neighbouring countries. There is now an understanding of how to find a balance — a very delicate and complex one, like a clock mechanism with many moving parts.
