Small farmers must be protected: The Polish Dairy Chamber has outlined its expectations should Ukraine join the EU
26 June 20:55
Ukraine’s accession process to the European Union must be accompanied by the adoption of rules that will protect small farmers both in Ukraine and in EU countries, particularly in Poland, said Agnieszka Maliszewska, Director General of the Polish Dairy Chamber, during the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 in Gdańsk, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
“We need rules that will prevent the destruction of both Ukrainian and Polish small farmers. When Poland joined the EU, it lost many small farms and small processing enterprises that were unable to withstand the burden of new standards and requirements,” Maliszewska said.
According to her, Ukraine is only at the beginning of its long path toward EU membership, but Poland supports the country’s European integration aspirations and is sharing its experience with Ukrainian partners.
Maliszewska noted that Ukrainian and European farmers are already competing with one another both in third-country markets and within the EU’s internal market. At the same time, the structure of agricultural production differs significantly: Poland’s agriculture is based on small and medium-sized farms, while Ukraine’s sector consists of much larger operations.
She also drew attention to the significant increase in imports of certain types of Ukrainian agricultural products to the EU after 2023, noting that this is linked both to the consequences of the full-scale war and to the high production potential of Ukraine’s agricultural sector.
According to her, further EU enlargement should be based on transparent rules, facts, and statistics to ensure fair competition and the balanced development of the agricultural sector.
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Navrotsky’s Statements on Ukraine’s EU Accession
As a reminder, Polish President Karol Nawrocki recently stated that Ukraine’s accession to the European Union could pose a threat to the Polish agricultural sector. He emphasized that, while he understands Ukraine’s aspirations for European integration, he considers it his duty to protect Poland’s domestic market.
According to him, Poland must protect its own market and domestic products. Nawrocki assured farmers that, as head of state, he would consistently defend the interests of Polish farmers.
He also noted that while he understands Kyiv’s aspirations for European integration, he considers it his direct duty to protect Polish producers.
It should be noted that Ukraine has begun the practical phase of preparation for membership in the European Union. As part of the agricultural sector, the domestic agro-industrial complex must prepare to operate under the strict rules of the single European market. This will open up access for Ukraine to 440 million new consumers, but will require the fulfillment of 16 specific indicators.
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