Regional hearings held in Odesa as part of Ukraine’s EU accession talks on agriculture
The Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture is finalising preparations for bilateral meetings with the European Commission as part of Ukraine’s EU accession negotiation process.
Chaired by Deputy Minister Denys Bashlyk, regional hearings were held in Odesa to prepare for Ukraine’s EU accession talks, focusing on Chapters 11, 12, and 13, which cover the agricultural sector. Over 70 representatives from agricultural, fishing, and processing enterprises in Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Kirovohrad regions participated.
Key topics at the southern regions’ meeting included the development of fisheries and marine industries, support for frontline areas, ensuring animal welfare, and advancing dairy processing.
Participants emphasised that these areas are strategic for the regional economy while requiring special attention in aligning Ukrainian legislation with EU norms and standards.
“Dialogue with businesses allows us to hear practical proposals and consider the interests of frontline regions. The insights from farmers and outcomes of such discussions will form the basis for negotiations with the European Commission. The state stands with farmers and is ready to explore ways to support them, ensuring the transition to European standards is as smooth as possible and delivers positive results for every producer,” said Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Denys Bashlyk.
The next regional hearings are scheduled for 28 August in Poltava, with participation from businesses in Kyiv, Cherkasy, Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions. As previously reported, regional hearings took place in Lviv on 14 August 2025.
Background
Bilateral meetings between Ukraine and the European Commission on negotiation Chapters 11 (“Agriculture and Rural Development”, 8–10 September 2025), 12 (“Food Safety, Veterinary, and Phytosanitary Policy”, 15–19 September 2025), and 13 (“Fisheries and Aquaculture”, 25–26 September 2025) will be held in Brussels, Belgium, as part of the official screening of Ukraine’s legislation alignment with EU law. During these meetings, Ukrainian experts will present the progress in implementing EU legal acts into Ukrainian legislation.