The Council of the European Union has adopted a decision outlining the EU's position in the EU-Ukraine Association Committee (in trade configuration) regarding the reduction or elimination of customs duties on a range of agri-food products, including fresh fruit and vegetables.
The move follows a preliminary agreement reached between the European Commission and Ukraine on 30 June 2025 to review the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). The aim is to establish a long-term, reciprocal trade framework as part of Ukraine's broader EU accession process.
© EU Commission
Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
According to Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, "Today's decision reaffirms the EU's unwavering and multifaceted support for Ukraine, after three years of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified military aggression. We are helping Ukraine militarily and financially, but we also need to help them by promoting trade liberalisation. Both the EU and Ukraine will benefit from the elimination of customs duties, leading to sustained economic stability, enduring trade relations, and further Ukrainian integration with the Union."
The Council decision is expected to increase trade flows between the EU and Ukraine while ensuring that Ukraine's market access is conditional on gradual alignment with EU standards on animal welfare, pesticide use, and veterinary medicines.
The framework includes safeguard mechanisms allowing either side to respond in cases of market disruption. Access for sensitive agricultural products such as sugar, poultry, eggs, wheat, maize, and honey will remain limited and phased in gradually. Full liberalisation will be considered only for non-sensitive products such as milk and dairy goods.
Following the Council's decision, the EU-Ukraine Association Committee, meeting in trade configuration, will formally adopt the measure as part of the review process under Article 29(4) of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. The objective of this process is to accelerate and expand the scope of customs duty elimination in bilateral trade.
The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, signed in 2014 and effective since September 2017, aims to strengthen political and economic ties while supporting closer alignment between Ukraine and the EU. The DCFTA, the economic component of the agreement, provides a framework for modernising Ukraine's trade and economic systems.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU has granted trade facilitations and autonomous trade measures providing broad market access. These measures were renewed in 2023 and 2024 but expired on 6 June 2025.
For more information:
Maria Daniela Lenzu
European Commission
Tel: +32 2 281 21 46
Email: [email protected]
www.consilium.europa.eu
