Ukraine’s path into the EU may come with a catch for its farmers: limits on subsidies and market access
Brussels may limit Ukraine’s access to agricultural subsidies and the EU food market if it joins the bloc, according to an internal European Commission document cited by the Financial Times.
A European Commission document obtained by the Financial Times suggests that Ukraine's potential EU membership could come with restrictions on agricultural subsidies and market access. Brussels aims to reassure existing EU members such as Poland, France, and Italy, who are concerned that an influx of Ukrainian grain could harm their farmers.
In return, the EU promises to help restore Ukraine's access to its traditional export markets. The EU currently spends 55 billion euros annually on agricultural support. According to the European Commission, new members' access to subsidies would be contingent upon reforms and the fulfillment of commitments made during their accession.
Additionally, the Commission proposes that it would be easier to revoke members' voting rights if they violate the bloc's rules. The rapid EU enlargement due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine has raised fears among some member countries that Brussels may relax its rule-of-law and anti-corruption standards for new members. Corruption scandals in Ukraine have further fueled doubts about Kyiv's readiness to join.
In 2022, the EU lifted tariffs and quotas on Ukrainian agricultural products to bolster Ukraine's economy; however, the surge of cheaper Ukrainian goods led to protests by European farmers, particularly in Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Bulgaria. In 2024, the EU reinstated restrictions on certain goods. On June 6, 2025, the EU lifted the preferential trade arrangement with Ukraine and restored prewar duty-free import quotas to safeguard its own producers.
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