The European Commission has rated the readiness of Ukraine's agricultural sector for European integration as satisfactory, as reported by Oleg Nivievsky, Vice President of the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), on Telegram.
"The readiness for euro-integration in the agricultural sector appears as follows: overall, it is still a two (on a five-point scale)," - he wrote.
The Vice President of KSE specified that the European Commission assessed the Ukrainian agricultural sector and rural development at one (early stage of preparation); food safety, veterinary services, and phytosanitary measures at three (moderately prepared); and aquaculture at two (some level of preparation).
Nivievsky reminded that the European Commission evaluates progress on a six-point scale. Accordingly, when converted to the Ukrainian grading system, it appears satisfactory: fours for the agricultural sector and rural development, as well as for food safety, veterinary services, and phytosanitary measures. For the euro-integration process in aquaculture, it is a five.
"There is some progress. … In short, there is still a lot of work ahead for the state machinery," - concluded the Vice President of KSE.
As reported, the European Commission completed the initial screening of Ukrainian legislation for compliance with European Union standards in the spring of 2024.
According to Taras Vysotsky, First Deputy Minister of Agricultural Policy and Food, each legislative act will now be checked paragraph by paragraph, with the verification of agricultural legislation being conducted last, tentatively in September 2025.
In a comment to "Interfax-Ukraine," he explained that the most challenging areas for Ukraine in terms of implementation could include adapting the plant protection system, incorporating nitrate directives, adhering to greenhouse gas emission norms per hectare of agricultural land, as well as the need for comprehensive animal welfare and conditions of their care. A separate challenge will be the revision of the veterinary system and the use of veterinary drugs, particularly antibiotics.