Ukraine Suggests Delaying EU Farm Subsidies Until After 2034, Deputy PM Says
Ukraine's Deputy PM Taras Kachka suggested delaying EU farm subsidy access until after 2034, even with earlier EU accession. Agricultural integration is complex, but smaller Ukrainian farmers still deserve support. This aims to manage expectations for Ukraine's EU membership.
Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Taras Kachka, stated on Tuesday that the country's access to the EU's multi-billion farm subsidy program, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), could be delayed until after 2034, even if Ukraine joins the bloc sooner.
Speaking at a Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) event in Brussels, Kachka emphasized the urgency of EU accession, ideally this year or next, but cautioned that agricultural integration would take much longer. He suggested that full CAP membership might occur in the 2034 cycle, not the nearest one. This timeline is an option under consideration but remains speculative and has not been discussed with EU countries.
Kachka also noted that some Ukrainian agricultural companies might choose to forgo CAP payments, similar to many EU firms. He stressed that smaller Ukrainian farmers, though fewer than in countries like Poland or France, deserve support, which he believes the CAP can bear.