in Ukraine, these agricultural companies say they are forced to export chicken to Europe to survive

Since the war with Russia, Ukraine has been exempt from customs duties with the EU. But this measure is threatened by the movements of European farmers, who denounce unfair competition.

Should we cap or limit imports of agricultural products from Ukraine onto the European market? The subject has been debated at the Union summit for a week. Ukraine, since it was attacked by Russia two years ago, has benefited from an exemption from customs duties, a way for the EU to support its economy weakened by the war. But from Poland to France, via Germany, European farmers’ movements are contesting these advantages, accusing Ukrainian imports of unfair competition with European agriculture.

At Ular, in western Ukraine, near Lviv, we cultivate 7,000 hectares of land and slaughter 6,000 chickens per hour: a Ukrainian company modeled on European standards, praises its sales director Igor Svystoun. However, he refutes the image of a Ukrainian agro-industry which would flood the European market with its products. “We export less than 5% of our production to the EU, he explains, and another 5% to other markets, especially Asian. 90% of chickens are sold on the Ukrainian market”.

“We no longer have public aid”

Before the Russian invasion, the company exported mainly to Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, but the war cut off the route to these markets. The West, Europe, has become the only way to compensate for these losses, explains operations director Bogdan Poupa.

“We lost a lot of opportunities on the internal market, with the occupied territories, with the millions of people who emigrated, so the European market has become vital for us.”

Bogdan Poupa

at franceinfo

Vital, and threatened, if Europe gives in to the anger of farmers, from Poland to France, who demand that Ukrainian agricultural exports be capped. Igor Svystoun sees this as an injustice for his country at war. “We work according to the same standards and at the same prices as the Europeans, except that we, in addition, because of the war, we no longer have public aid, no longer access to attractive credit rates, we lack workforce due to mobilization and emigration. We find it unfair to be singled out.”

“A disinformation campaign” against Ukraine

As for the mobilizations of European farmers who spread anti-Ukrainian speeches. Igor clearly sees the influence of Russia there. “We can assume that there is an organized disinformation campaign behind it to accuse Ukraine of all evils. But there is nothing serious that shows that Ukraine threatens the European market. We all that what we want is to find our traditional export markets, to be able to work normally in normal market conditions.”

Like many players in Ukrainian agribusiness, Igor and Bogdan have the feeling of being the obvious scapegoats for a European agricultural crisis that is beyond their control.