Joint statement: Initial reactions to the revised EU-Ukraine Trade Agreement
ePURE is among the signatories of the following joint statement on the revised EU-Ukraine Trade Agreement:
We take note of the release of the details concerning the revision of Article 29 of the EU- Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) bringing long-term certainty and stability to our trade relations, which is vital for producers on both sides. However, and although we recognise efforts to strike a balance in extending further concessions to Ukraine, serious concerns remain, particularly concerning the treatment of sensitive sectors. The increase of quotas for poultry (+33 %), eggs (+200 %), maize (+54%), ethyl alcohol (+25%) and especially for sugar (+398 %) and honey (+483%), continue to pose significant challenges for the affected sectors.
The scale of the concession is disproportionate for some of these sensitive agricultural sectors, and leave producers exposed and unsupported, at a time when these sectors are already under pressure from previous and upcoming cumulative trade liberalisation. It is also important to emphasise that the full liberalisations granted raise serious concerns — both immediate, as seen with the mushroom sector already under pressure, and longer- term, particularly for various dairy products that have been fully liberalised.
There are also outstanding questions regarding how market disturbances will be assessed in practice for the activation of safeguard measures. As witnessed during the discussions on Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs), there was a notable discrepancy between the data presented by the Commission and the lived experience of producers across Member States.
Moreover, greater clarity is needed on how conditionality — particularly in relation to production standards — will be implemented. While Ukraine’s legislative alignment with EU rules is a positive step, especially in the context of the accession process, enforcement under wartime conditions presents serious limitations. Transposing legislation is one thing; ensuring effective implementation and compliance on the ground is quite another.
Following this initial reaction, the undersigned organisations will now, together with their members, undertake a detailed analysis of the agreement’s provisions to better assess its implications.
We remain committed to continued dialogue with the European Commission to ensure that these issues are addressed in a fair, transparent, and workable manner.
On behalf of the following associations:
AVEC – Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade in the EU countries
CEFS – European Association of Sugar Manufacturers
CEPM – European Confederation of Maize Production
CIBE – International Confederation of European Beet Growers
COPA-COGECA - The United Voice of Farmers and their Cooperatives in the European Union
ePURE – European Renewable Ethanol Association
EUWEP - European Union of Wholesale with Eggs, Egg Products, Poultry and Game
iEthanol – European Industrial and Beverage Ethanol Association
For further information, please contact
Birthe Steenberg - Secretary General AVEC ׀ ELPHA ׀ EPB +32 492 10 75 71 bs@avec- poultry.eu
Catherine Jaworowska - Communication and Social Affairs Officer CEFS +32 2 774 51
07 catherine.jaworowska@cefs.org
Arthur Boy - Policy Advisor for economic affairs CEPM arthur.boy@agpm.com +33 6 79 05 78 31
Elisabeth Lacoste – Director CIBE +32 2 50 46 091 elisabeth.lacoste@cibe-europe.eu
Ksenija Simovic - Senior Policy Advisor COPA-COGECA +32 473 66 30 71 ksenija.simovic@copa-cogeca.eu
Bruno Menne - Director of Commodities COPA-COGECA +32 478 18 99 09 bruno.menne@copa-cogeca.eu
Simona Vackeova - Director of Government Affairs ePURE +32 2 609 50 54 vackeova@epure.org
Clara Hagen - Secretary General EUWEP +31 30 637 88 44 Clara.Hagen@euwep.org
Gabriela Tatian – Director of Government Affairs iEthanol +32 470 62 42 46 tatian@iethanol.eu
