Last year, EDA (European Dairy Association) celebrated Europe Day on 9 May 2024 jointly with the Ukrainian lactosphère in Kyiv and signed our Memorandum of Understanding.
On 8 April 2024, the EU renewed the Autonomous Trade Measures (ATM) for Ukraine until 5 June 2025, allowing Ukraine to continue generating income from trade flows with the EU, which has proven to be essential in order to support its economy. Coupled with the EU’s extensive military, financial and humanitarian support, this has significantly helped Ukraine in its efforts not least on its gradual integration into the EU internal market.
The official statement at the time declared that ‘this renewal reaffirms the EU’s unwavering political and economic support for Ukraine, after two years of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression.’
The situation in Ukraine has clearly not changed to the better since 2024. Nevertheless, the approach of the Union has changed in the meantime: an ATM renewal is no longer on the agenda, instead an agreement based on Article 29 of the UA-EU Association Agreement: a rather long process to re-negotiate the schedule of tariff reduction or elimination.
“The prolongation of the ATMs beyond 5 June 2025 is, beyond all economic considerations, a political imperative. The arguments presented by the Union for the 2024 prolongation are today more valid than ever. There is an urgent need for action at European Union level”, stated EDA secretary general Alexander Anton.
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