EU Plans to Limit Ukraine Farm Payments to Ease Membership Angst

The European Union wants to restrict money and market access for Ukraine’s vast agriculture sector if the country joins the bloc — an attempt to appease concerns about Kyiv’s membership bid.

“The structure and the size of agriculture in Ukraine is really unique, therefore we are proposing that we do special arrangements which would limit the financial support and market access for some of the Ukrainian agricultural products, not for all,” said Marta Kos, the EU commissioner overseeing enlargement, speaking to reporters ahead of a Tuesday meeting where the bloc’s commissioners discussed the idea.

“Partial integration will be possible, and Ukraine will become a member of the EU,” Kos said. “But with this, what we propose now is protecting European farmers.”

The EU has made Ukraine’s membership a priority since Russia launched its full-scale war in 2022. But numerous countries have balked at the prospect, warning that absorbing the country of over 30 million people would destabilize the EU’s finances and policies.

In particular, they note that Ukraine’s expansive farming sector and relatively low incomes would make it a massive beneficiary of the EU budget, while exposing farmers in countries like Poland and France to increased competition.

Ukraine’s entire agricultural industry accounts for roughly 20% of the country’s gross domestic product and an even larger share of its export revenues. Ukraine holds approximately 41 million hectares of agricultural land — more arable land than any other country in Europe.

Kyiv applied for membership days after Russia’s all-out invasion and formally began membership negotiations in June 2024. The EU has repeatedly stressed that Ukraine’s EU path will remain merit-based despite the political desire to quickly bring Ukraine closer to the bloc.

The membership process accelerated this year, with EU governments agreeing to open negotiations with Ukraine on areas like the rule of law and democratic institutions, as well as foreign, security and trade policy. Countries are expected to approve new negotiating topics next week.

Any proposal to curb benefits for Ukraine’s agriculture sector would also be subject to negotiations.

Since applying to join the bloc, Kyiv has made a number of agriculture-specific requests for EU aid as Black Sea strikes hinder grain exports and drive up global food prices. But Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotskyi recently told Bloomberg the country is also focused on urgent matters like increasing tariff-free quotas for certain EU exports and securing liquidity for farmers.

Additionally, Ukraine has previously said it is willing to delay access to some EU benefits to accelerate its membership.

Brussels has praised Ukraine for advancing reforms during the war but continues to press the government on areas like the judiciary, public administration and anti-corruption safeguards. Last week, the commission ruled out Ukraine’s demand to accelerate payments of EU aid this year, urging Ukraine to focus on its reform plan.

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