How Ukraine prepares the agricultural sector to operate under EU rules: new measures agreed upon with the Netherlands
Ukraine, together with the Netherlands, is taking practical steps to prepare the agricultural sector for EU membership. During the second Ukrainian-Dutch intergovernmental conference in Breda, the parties focused on specific tools that will help Ukrainian producers adapt to European standards and operate confidently in the common market.
More than 50 representatives of government agencies from both countries participated in the conference. The Ukrainian side was represented, in particular, by Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine. The delegation from the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine was led by Oleksii Pinchuk, Director of the Rural Development Department.
During the thematic panels, the Ukrainian side presented the current state of the agricultural sector and progress in fulfilling tasks within the framework of the EU accession negotiation process. Discussions focused on preparations under Chapters 11 “Agriculture and Rural Development,” 12 “Food Safety,” and 13 “Fisheries”—areas that define the requirements for the production and circulation of agricultural products in the European market.
Special attention was given to supporting small and medium-sized producers. With the participation of Dutch partners, practical roadmaps are planned to be developed to help farmers clearly understand exactly what changes are necessary to implement EU standards and within what timeframe they can be realized. The parties will also work on sectoral strategies and tools necessary to align Ukraine’s agricultural sector with European requirements, particularly in the area of food safety.
Among the areas of cooperation is the exchange of experience regarding the implementation of the Area Monitoring System (AMS). This tool is already used in the EU for transparent land management and control over the use of agricultural land. For Ukraine, the implementation of AMS is an important step toward a modern digital agricultural policy and more transparent rules for producers.
The schedule of the visit also contained a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature of the Netherlands Jaimi van Essen. The parties discussed further expansion of cooperation in the areas of trade, agricultural policy, and environmental protection, as well as support for Ukraine on its path to EU membership. Separately, they discussed opportunities for cooperation with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, particularly regarding an independent assessment of Ukraine’s agricultural policy, which could serve as an additional tool to prepare the sector for European regulations.
In addition, the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture's delegation joined the dialogue between Ukrainian and Dutch agribusinesses. Such meetings provide a better understanding of the practical challenges of integrating into the EU market, establish direct contacts between companies, and lay the groundwork for joint projects.
The holding of the second intergovernmental conference reaffirmed the strategic nature of the partnership between Ukraine and the Netherlands and their shared commitment to moving from political support to practical solutions that will help the Ukrainian agricultural sector integrate into the European economic area. The next meeting of the conference is scheduled to take place in Ukraine in 2027.