The meeting was also attended by the representatives of the Sejm and the Senate of the Republic of Poland invited by the Ministry of Agriculture: Katarzyna Królak, MP, Chair of the Polish-Ukrainian Parliamentary Group, Mirosław Maliszewski, MP, Chair of the Sejm Agriculture and Rural Development Committee and President of the Polish Fruit Growers Association and Ryszard Bober, MP, Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. These were fifth Polish-Ukrainian talks with the participation of agricultural communities from Poland and Ukraine.

Position of the Polish Ministry of Agriculture

Deputy Minister Gromadzka stressed the importance of developing bilateral relations in agricultural matters. She stressed that the agricultural dialogue should be built primarily on the basis of a reliable exchange of information and constructive decisions. The Secretary of State pointed to the concerns of Polish farmers, which resulted, among others, from differences in the agrarian structure of both countries or production capacity.

Deputy Minister Gromadzka also indicated the regional aspect of cooperation with partners from Ukraine.

– I hope that meetings with the participation of agricultural communities from Poland and Ukraine will be a platform for honest, yet sometimes difficult discussions. If we know our mutual problems, we can search for solutions. We should not avoid our problems and concerns because we are and we will remain neighbours – stressed the Secretary of State.

Tuesday meeting and the statements made by representatives of industry organisations show that between Poland and Ukraine there are still many concerns and issues pertaining to agricultural matters that need to be discussed and clarified. Poland supports Ukraine’s aspirations to join the EU, however, we must ensure that the integration of Ukraine’s agriculture into the EU strengthens the stability of the single market, rather than undermining it. Poland wants to be a partner of Ukraine but also an advocate for the safety of European farmers and consumers.

Secretary of State Małgorzata Gromadzka assured that we would continue the partnership dialogue with Ukraine.

Ukrainian party on the agricultural relations with Poland

The Ukrainian Deputy Minister Bashlyk thanked the Polish party for existing cooperation and support, including for the dialogue with the participation of industry organisations.

– When we talk strategically and look globally – then, we are on the same side – emphasised Deputy Minister Bashlyk. As regards trade issues, he pointed out that the Union market was important for Ukrainian producers also making efforts to strengthen their presence on African or Asian markets.

In his speech, he also pointed to the impact of the war on the Ukrainian agri-food sector. He stressed that Ukraine had definitely taken a pro-European course. The process of integrating Ukrainian agriculture into the EU legislation, which is currently underway, is demanding. In this context, the Deputy Minister agreed with the Polish party that Ukraine’s preparations for its membership in the European Union were not only new opportunities but also challenges.

Opinion of industry organisations

In the context of bilateral relations, the representatives of industry organisations from Poland and Ukraine indicated specific threats, wondered how to minimise them and how to turn them into opportunities for cooperation.

The Polish party stressed the readiness to act together, but on an equal basis. The Ukrainian party pointed to the interest in Polish experiences in the field of preparations for implementing the EU legislation.

As part of the potential cooperation opportunities, the participants indicated the use of the export potential of agri-food commodities or the import, to Poland, of Ukrainian commodities, for which there was a high demand in Poland, e.g. Ukrainian soya meal.