Summary of the 182nd mBank-CASE Seminar
The seminar discussed the challenges and opportunities related to the integration of Ukrainian agriculture into the European market, a process that became particularly important after Ukraine started its EU accession process. Both Polish and Ukrainian agriculture share common traits, such as high food self-sufficiency levels and significant economic importance. However, there are notable differences—Ukraine has far larger agricultural resources, though its agricultural sector is underfunded, while Poland has made considerable progress due to EU support. A key concern is the risk of excessive competition between countries, which could harm European farmers. Experts emphasized that the development of Ukrainian agriculture should be based on synergy, and the accession process will require long-term negotiations and transitional periods. Differences in export structures were also discussed—Ukraine focuses on agricultural raw materials like grains and oils, while Polish exports are more diversified. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will need to be reformed to support the agricultural sectors of both countries in a sustainable way, considering new challenges and promoting environmentally friendly practices.