EU completes screening of first chapter in final cluster in accession talks with Ukraine

Representatives of Ukraine and the European Union have completed screening meetings on negotiating chapter 11, ‘Agriculture and Rural Development,’ of the last cluster, 5, ‘Resources, Agriculture and Cohesion Policy.’

Over three days of meetings, Ukraine presented 28 thematic blocks covering agricultural reform progress, digitalisation, state support, market regulation and development of the agrarian sector. 

The Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine said this "demonstrated Ukraine’s readiness to integrate into the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy".

The Ukrainian delegation also outlined the level of alignment of national legislation with EU law in five areas: horizontal issues (financial and administrative structures), agricultural markets, quality policy, organic production and promotion of agricultural products.

"The European Commission positively assessed the materials presented," the ministry noted.

Chapter 11, Agriculture and Rural Development, includes a wide range of mandatory rules, most of which will apply in Ukraine upon accession without the need for additional legislation. 

Proper application, enforcement and monitoring of these rules are considered critical for the functioning of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy.

This is the first chapter opened within the negotiating cluster 5 ‘Resources, agriculture and cohesion policy’ – the last one to be screened. Earlier, Ukraine and the EU completed screening for clusters 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6.

In July, Ukraine successfully completed screening of the fourth cluster of accession negotiations with the EU.

Read more: Getting round Orbán: how to unblock Ukraine's road to the EU