Dairy industry development and European integration: Taras Vysotskyy participates in Workshop

Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, Taras Vysotskyy, took part in the seminar “Ukraine’s Dairy Sector: Fostering Resilience, Sustainability, and European Integration.” The event brought together representatives of relevant agricultural associations, international dairy industry experts, and academics.

Seminar participants discussed the following topics:

- Trade relations and European integration;

- Key achievements and Ukraine’s role in global agricultural trade;

- Current state of organic milk production in Ukraine;

- Post-war recovery of the dairy sector and its sustainable development.

Taras Vysotskyy presented the Ministry’s report titled “From Ukraine to the EU: Aligning Trade and Legislation with European Standards.” He stated, “In September, Ukraine successfully completed a screening with the European Commission on three Negotiation Chapters related to aligning the agricultural sector with EU requirements. The European Commission’s representatives are very constructive and supportive of Ukraine. We are now moving toward forming negotiation positions and continuing to implement EU standards. This involves numerous regulations. Regarding dairy sector regulation, we have an ambitious plan to promptly adapt European requirements into national legislation. This will enhance the competitiveness of our farmers and boost export potential.”

The Deputy Minister emphasized that EU countries were a key export market for Ukrainian agricultural products, including dairy. He noted that, compared to 2021, the dairy sector has shown steady export growth to the EU. In 2024, Ukraine exported EUR 38 million worth of skimmed milk powder, a 7.7-fold increase compared to 2021. Implementing European standards in production will further expand export markets for Ukrainian dairy products.

Participants also explored pathways for the post-war recovery of the dairy sector, which has been significantly impacted by the full-scale invasion. According to the World Bank’s estimates, the agricultural sector has incurred losses of nearly USD 84 billion.

The event was organized by the International Finance Corporation, a division of the World Bank Group, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic, the UK Government, and the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club Association.