Baker & McKenzie hosts seminar on Ukrainian-EU Trade

Baker&McKenzie, Kyiv, Ukraine
Mon, June 8, 2015

Kyiv, Ukraine, 8 June 2015 - Withthe support of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine and incooperation with leading European companies, Baker & McKenzie hosted aseminar on Ukrainian-EU Trade: Advocating Ukrainian Businesses on 2 June in InterContinentalHotel, Kyiv.

This seminar drew over 35attendees including top managers of the largest Ukrainian agro- andfood-producers. Among the hot topics of the seminar were the upcomingnegotiations around Ukrainian quotas for agriculture products, legal challengesand the political dynamics at play in the EU capital.

In his opening remarks, Jocelyn Guitton, First Secretary of Trade and EconomicSection of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine reminded theUkrainian producers that first of all, they have to comply with the existingtrade rules and added, "You can not expect the rules to changeovernight..."

Vladyslava Rutytska, the Deputy Minister on European Integration of theMinistry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine added, "The food safetylegislation is a matter of critical importance to help increase the share ofUkrainian food products in the European Union market. To address this matter,we have developed new legislation to help harmonize Ukrainian legislation withEU laws that are designed to improve the competitiveness of Ukrainian foodproducts of animal origin in the EU market and to ensure that food productsoffered to the local customers are safe".

Baker & McKenzie Partner Viacheslav Yakymchuk stated, "One of the waysto expedite entry into the EU market is to find a European partner who willnavigate Ukrainian companies through various EU procedures…"

Karl Isaksson, Managing Partner of KREAB Strategic Communications (Brussels,Belgium) said, "Advocacy in Brussels is very transparent and decisionmakers welcome good facts and arguments. I strongly believe that Ukrainianindustry needs a stronger voice in Brussels."

Marcus Stober, Partner at Stober,Poltavets and Associates, Public affairs (Sweden-Switzerland-Ukraine) in hisspeech emphasized, "I'd like Ukrainian companies to be engaged directly inBrussels… It is important to be present locally in order to have appropriateinfo in the right context to advocate efficiently…"

The seminar gave ideas and equipped Ukrainian business executives withadditional insight into how to better understand the Brussels scene and providea general understanding of how to navigate and advocate on behalf of theirbusiness interest at the European level.

About Baker & McKenzie

Founded in 1949, Baker &McKenzie advises many of the world’s most dynamic and successful businessorganizations through 4,250 lawyers and 5,300 other professional staff in 77offices in 47 countries. Global revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30,2014, were $2.54 billion. Eduardo Leite is Chairman of the ExecutiveCommittee.(www.bakermckenzie.com)