Today, May 20, the conference “Roadmap for European Integration of the Dairy Sector of Ukraine” is taking place. The event brought together representatives of the government, the dairy industry, international organisations, and specialised associations to discuss the European integration of the industry and the adaptation of the Ukrainian dairy sector to EU requirements.
The conference was opened by Vadym Chaharovsky, Chairman of the Union of Dairy Enterprises of Ukraine; Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine; Hennadiy Chyzhykov, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine; and Alexander Anton, Secretary General of EDA. The partners in developing the Roadmap — Manon Schuppers, Co-General Director of SAFOSO AG (Switzerland), and Carolyn Spaans, Counsellor for Agriculture at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine — also addressed the participants with welcoming remarks.
The welcoming speeches noted that the Ukrainian dairy industry today serves as one of the best examples of systematic alignment with EU quality standards. Such results were made possible by the coordinated interaction of specialised associations, the state, and producers, who not only actively defend the sector’s interests but also form a clear vision of its development in the European space. The speakers emphasised that effective industry advocacy and a proactive business position create favourable conditions for the further integration of the Ukrainian dairy sector into the European market. At the same time, special attention was paid to the strategic importance of the Ukrainian dairy industry for Europe and to the need for continuous participation of Ukrainian representatives in discussions and meetings at the European Commission level, where decisions important for the future of the sector are made.
Oleksandr Avramuk, General Director of SE Lactalis Ukraine and Head of the SMPU Committee on European Integration, together with the Committee Coordinator, Elizabeth Svyatkivska, presented the Roadmap for the European Integration of the Ukrainian Dairy Sector. During the presentation of the roadmap, Yelizaveta Svyatkivska noted that the document was developed in close cooperation with business, which actively participated in shaping its provisions. She expressed gratitude to European partners from the Netherlands, France, Denmark, Switzerland and Poland, who actively advised and supported the developers. She emphasised that the main goal of the roadmap is to align Ukraine’s commitments in European integration with the interests and needs of the Ukrainian dairy industry, ensuring its competitiveness and sustainable development as a participant in the European market.
The document was the result of joint work by representatives of the dairy industry, experts, and international partners, and identified key steps for adapting the Ukrainian dairy sector to the requirements and standards of the European Union.
The roadmap is designed to serve as a practical tool for Ukrainian milk producers and processors during European integration. It will contribute to strengthening the industry’s competitiveness, developing exports, and expanding access to Ukrainian dairy products in European markets.
The conference participants emphasised that implementing the Roadmap provisions will be an important step toward the systemic development of the Ukrainian dairy sector and its integration into the European economic space.
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The event is held in partnership with the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) with the support of:
* Switzerland within the framework of the Swiss-Ukrainian Program “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sectors in Ukraine” (QFTP), implemented by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL, Switzerland) in partnership with SAFOSO AG (Switzerland);
* Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine.
