Andrii Dykun, Chairman of the Ukrainian Agri Council, took part in the Parliamentary Evening hosted by Familienbetriebe Land & Forst — an influential German association representing the interests of family-owned agricultural and forestry enterprises in Germany.

The event brought together representatives of political circles, the agricultural sector and relevant organisations to discuss current challenges and prospects for the development of agriculture.

As part of the event, Andrii Dykun held a series of meetings with representatives of the German agricultural sector and policymakers shaping Germany’s agricultural policy.

In particular, he met with Max Freiherr von Elverfeldt, Chairman of Familienbetriebe Land & Forst; Alois Rainer, Federal Minister of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity of Germany; Hermann Färber, Chairperson of the Bundestag Committee on Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity; and Marlene Mortler, Chairwoman of the Board of the German Bioenergy Association and Member of the European Parliament in 2019–2024.

The main focus of the meetings was Ukraine’s European integration and the future of the Ukrainian agricultural sector in the European Union.

“Ukraine respects the rules and values of the EU and is ready for integration. At the same time, it is extremely important for us that accession to the European Union does not limit the development opportunities of Ukraine’s agricultural sector, but, on the contrary, opens up new prospects for growth. That is why, in the process of European integration, it is necessary to find solutions that will allow Ukraine to combine compliance with European requirements with maintaining the competitiveness of Ukrainian producers in the global market,” Andrii Dykun emphasised.

The UAC Chairman noted that Ukrainian farmers have strong positions in the markets of Africa, Asia and other regions of the world. Therefore, in the process of integration into the European Union, it is important not only to adapt to European rules, but also to preserve and further develop existing export markets.

During the meetings, the parties discussed challenges related to the regulation of the agricultural sector in the European Union and stressed the need to find a balance between regulatory requirements and the competitiveness of producers in global markets. Particular attention was paid to the role of Ukraine’s agricultural sector in Europe’s food security and to the continuation of dialogue on the terms of Ukraine’s integration into the EU, taking into account the interests of Ukrainian agricultural producers.

The Ukrainian Agri Council thanks its German partners for their openness to cooperation, support for Ukraine and readiness to work together on shaping conditions that will contribute to the successful integration of Ukraine’s agricultural sector into the European Union.