Ukraine's EU membership cannot be unconditional due to its agriculture - ex-European commissioner

MOSCOW. Dec 9 (Interfax) - Ukraine's membership in the European Union cannot be unconditional in view of its agriculture, there should be provisions protecting against excessive influence of its goods on the European market, former European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski said in an interview with farmer.pl, as Ukrainian media reported.

"It should be controlled imports," he said.

Wojciechowski is convinced that the European Commission needs to help Ukraine regain its traditional markets in Asia and Africa.

"If Ukraine exports 80% of its produce to Asian and African countries, there will be no problems in Europe because it [agricultural exports] did not exist before the crisis. If this export is redirected to Europe, there is a problem," Wojciechowski said.

In his opinion, the problem can be addressed by introducing supportive measures to bring Ukraine back to the markets where it used to be present and from which it was forced out due to the crisis. If facilitated, there will be no major problems in Europe.

"Given the potential of Ukrainian agriculture, this future membership cannot be unconditional. There must be provisions to protect against excessive influence of its goods on the EU market," Wojciechowski said.