Explanatory meetings between the European Commission and Ukraine continue in Brussels

The next stage of explanatory meetings with Ukrainian representatives on the official screening process has started in Brussels, this time under the Chapter 12 “Food security, veterinary and phytosanitary policy”. The discussions will take place on 29 and 30 April. The Ukrainian delegation is headed by Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitalii Holovnya.

The Deputy Minister thanked the EU for its consistent and unwavering support of Ukraine. He noted that the state policy of Ukraine in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary measures was based on several principles. These are food safety, plant health and protection, and animal health and welfare.

“The main strategic goal in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary measures until 2030 is to establish Ukraine as a reliable producer and exporter of safe and healthy agricultural and food products,” said Vitalii Holovnya.

Background

The European Commission’s explanatory meetings are part of the process of verifying the compliance of Ukraine’s legislation as a candidate country with EU law.

The inaugural meeting to launch the screening (assessment of compliance) of Ukrainian legislation with EU law took place on 25 January 2024.

The first explanatory meeting on the Agriculture and Rural Development section was held on 25-26 April. A meeting on Fisheries is scheduled for the end of May.

After these meetings, Ukraine is obliged to present its progress in each of the chapters. Based on these presentations, the European Commission will screen the legislation and provide specific recommendations. That is, what Ukraine needs to do in order to open negotiations on a particular chapter.