The two-year term of Andriy Tabalov, CEO of Voloshkove Pole, as Chairman of the European Integration Committee of SMPU, has ended.

The Union of Dairy Enterprises of Ukraine thanked Mr Tabalov for his effective leadership of the Committee and asked about the main achievements over the past two years:

— How would you assess the role of the Committee on European Integration of the Dairy Industry today?

— The Committee has actually become the main coordination platform for the entire dairy industry. We have united businesses, government agencies, and European partners to move in sync. It has allowed us to move from declarations to real decisions and systematic work.

— What key results have we achieved during this time?

— First of all, we have developed common positions with government agencies and European partners. We also signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the European Dairy Association; a similar document was also prepared with Eucolait. Our work contributed to achieving specific results regarding trade in dairy products: government negotiating groups increased quotas for some product types. Exports to the EU are quite significant. Even after the partial restoration of quotas in 2025, the EU’s share of exports was 36% in monetary terms.

— What was the interaction with government agencies?

— Very active. We held many meetings to discuss European integration issues. In particular, we met with Taras Vysotsky, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, and with representatives of the embassies of European countries. It allowed us to take into account businesses’ positions on key issues during the negotiation processes conducted by our government.

— Can we say that the Ukrainian dairy industry is already integrating into the European market?

— Yes, and this is no longer just an intention — it is a fact. The Ukrainian dairy sector is already becoming part of the European market. It opens up new opportunities and strengthens supply chains. Now it is no longer just about exports to the EU, but about scaling it up.

— What role do European partners play in this process?

— They actively support integration. For example, Eucolait (European Dairy Traders Association) advocates for maintaining free access for Ukrainian products to the EU market and even for full mutual duty-free trade. This is a very important signal for the entire industry. We also receive constant support from the European Dairy Association, its Secretary General Alexander Anton, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine, Polish dairy associations, in particular Polska Izba Mleka, and others. Thanks to this broad support, our position is well known to the European Commission and to European professional associations in the dairy sector.

— Tell us about the Roadmap that the Committee is currently working on.

— This is our main strategic project. The Roadmap provides for the harmonisation of Ukrainian legislation in the dairy sector with EU requirements and defines the sequence of changes in the dairy industry and the necessary conditions for fulfilling Ukraine’s commitments made during negotiations on the country’s accession to the EU. The Roadmap was developed by 11 working groups, which included leading industry specialists and experts. Consultations were held with business and government, and Prospex specialists were involved. We have already presented a preliminary version to the business and conducted a survey regarding comments and wishes. We are now at the final stage.

— When can we expect the completion of this work and the presentation of its results?

— Finalisation is scheduled for April 2026, and the official presentation for May. The completion of this work will be an important step forward for the entire industry.

— What are the next steps of the Committee?

— We have already outlined clear tasks: completing the harmonisation of legislation, deepening cooperation with the EU, and supporting the negotiation process. We will also continue active interaction with industry associations and international partners.

— How would you summarise the work of the Committee to date?

— The Committee has become a real driver of the European integration of the dairy industry. A very large amount of work has been done, and working relationships have been established that will help continue the further integration of the Ukrainian dairy sector into the EU lactosphere through the modernisation of production, adherence to high-quality standards, and increased export opportunities. I can say that today the European Integration Committee can demonstrate concrete results.