Polish Minister of Agriculture Ceszlaw Siekierski says that the possible accession of neighboring Ukraine to the EU for Polish agriculture and horticulture is not only a threat, but also an opportunity. In a meeting with agricultural unions, he emphasized that the often small-scale Polish agricultural sector will have to modernize and scale up.
Minister Siekierski states that Ukraine is already a dominant player in the agricultural market, with an agricultural sector that is more effective and larger than that of Poland. Despite the destabilization caused by the Russian war, Ukraine remains an important agricultural export country, especially in terms of grain and meat production. Ukraine has vast fertile lands and lower production costs, which makes it a strong competitor in the European market.
For the Polish agricultural sector, which is currently focused on the production of crops, poultry and meat, the possible accession could pose a serious threat. Although the minister acknowledges the challenges, he also sees opportunities for Poland. He emphasises that Polish agriculture must continue to modernise and focus more on cooperation, for example by encouraging agricultural cooperatives.
The minister is currently on a tour of the country in talks with various agricultural organisations and trade unions to see how these collaborations can be stimulated.
In addition, the new centre-right coalition of former European Commissioner Donald Tusk wants to focus on innovations in technology and sustainable production methods to improve the competitive position. According to Siekierski, the modernisation of the infrastructure and the use of new agricultural techniques are crucial to allow Polish agriculture to flourish in an increasingly competitive European market.
The Minister of Agriculture's remarks are being met with criticism by various agricultural organisations. Trade unions and farmers' organisations point out that Polish agriculture has been under pressure for some time due to rising costs and unfair competition, both within and outside the EU. They fear that Ukraine's accession will further aggravate the situation.
Polish farmers' unions, including Solidarność, expect the new centre-right government to do more to protect the position of Polish farmers. They are pushing for more support measures, such as subsidies and fair prices for agricultural products. They are also calling for stricter regulations against the import of agricultural products from third countries, in order to protect the Polish market from cheap imports.