EU interested in expanding trade with Ukraine in both directions – EU commissioner

European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen stated this during a joint briefing with Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka and Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Jakob Jensen in Luxembourg, on the sidelines of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting, Ukrinform reports.

"It is very important that we show that we stand united behind Ukraine in its fight for freedom, in its fight for independence from Russia," Hansen said.

He noted that this solidarity includes the modernization of the trade agreement between Ukraine and the EU, which involves expanding a number of tariff quotas.

"It is very important that we strike this balance between giving more access and economic advantages to Ukrainian producers and maintaining the solidarity of our farming community," he said.

Hansen also underlined the importance of boosting trade in both directions: "Not only Ukrainian imports coming to the EU but also EU exports to Ukraine. And there we have liberalization in many tariff lines that will bring direct benefits to our farming community."

Also, in the context of the 19th EU sanctions package, he stressed the need to harm Russia's war economy "where we can."

Kachka earlier said at the EU Council meeting that Ukraine continued to develop its agricultural industry and was working to bring it fully in line with EU standards.

Photo: Euractiv