German farmers caution against potential risks of Ukraine’s EU membership

The President of the German Farmers’ Association, Joachim Rukwied, highlighted concerns over Ukraine’s possible inclusion in the EU, suggesting it could jeopardize the agricultural sector within the union. He issues this warning in his article in Euractiv.

Rukwied emphasized the considerable disparity in farm sizes between Ukraine and the EU, indicating that Ukrainian farms are significantly larger, posing challenges for integration into the existing agricultural framework of the EU. He argued that the existing Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the EU might not effectively accommodate Ukraine’s vast agricultural land if each hectare were subsidized, raising doubts about its feasibility.

Furthermore, Rukwied pointed out Ukraine’s efficient agricultural production due to fertile soil and inexpensive labor, creating substantial competition for several EU countries, notably visible in the disputes over Ukrainian grain exports to Poland and Hungary. The potential integration of Ukraine with agricultural practices differing from EU standards, particularly concerning pesticide use, could result in unfair competition with farms in other EU nations, according to Rukwied’s warnings. However, it’s crucial to note that before joining the Union, Ukraine must align with all EU standards by incorporating them into its national legislation.