Agro Perspectiva

Vitalii Koval discusses Ukraine's European integration with European colleagues

19.11.2024 22:47 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — During his visit to Brussels, Vitalii Koval, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, met with his European counterparts. In particular, he met with German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture Cem Özdemir, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature of the Netherlands Femke Wiersma, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Spain Luis Planas, Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture of Estonia Piret Hartman, Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark Jacob Jensen.

«My German colleague once again expressed his full support and solidarity with Ukraine and the agricultural sector and pledged further support for Ukrainian initiatives. Cem Özdemir invited the Ukrainian delegation to the Green Week in Berlin in January 2025. It is expected to be attended by 60 ministers and more than 10 international organisations,» said Vitalii Koval.

During the conversation with the Minister of Agriculture of the Netherlands Femke Wiersma, the parties discussed support for Ukraine’s European integration into the EU. In particular, assistance in building a food safety management system, ensuring animal well-being and plant protection measures.

«Another topic we paid attention to was strengthening cooperation between the StateGeoCadastre of Ukraine and the Netherlands. We have also invited our Dutch colleagues to cooperate in the dairy and potato sectors. We will continue this dialogue with the Embassy of the Netherlands in Ukraine,» the Minister said.

Vitalii Koval noted that he had discussed support for Ukraine in the process of European integration with Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Luis Planas, Estonian Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Piret Hartman, and Danish Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Jacob Jensen. He also met with colleagues from Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria.

«At each meeting, another important focus is the joint fight against misinformation in Europe about Ukrainian exports. Every time I urge our partners to work together to destroy negative myths about our products. For example, that they are flooding European markets and, therefore, there is no room for the products. This and other nonsense is actively spread by the enemy,» the Minister stressed.

According to him, the synchronisation of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food with European agricultural ministers is essential, as the lion’s share of European integration legislative changes relate to the agricultural sector of Ukraine. «Synergy with the leaders of the agricultural sector of European countries and strengthening of direct horizontal ties is more important than ever,» Vitaliy Koval added.