Poland faces possible EU sanctions over Ukrainian agricultural embargo

A recent analysis notes that Ukraine’s accession to the EU would increase the Union’s agricultural land by about 25%, putting pressure on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget, which stands at roughly €55 billion annually. Three scenarios are examined: expanding the CAP budget by €7.6‑13.4 billion a year, tightening eligibility criteria, or lowering per‑hectare payments. All options could lead to reduced subsidies for farmers in several member states, with Polish growers among those likely to feel the cuts.

At the same time, the European Commission warned that Poland, together with Slovakia and Hungary, may face an infringement procedure for maintaining a unilateral embargo on selected Ukrainian farm products. Brussels stresses that such restrictions threaten the integrity of the EU single market and urges the countries to withdraw the measures. The Commission indicated that the new EU‑Ukraine trade agreement, effective from November 2025, will lower import quotas and is intended to protect EU farmers without fragmenting the market.