You're reading: European Commission to inform Ukrainian businessmen on free trade opportunities

European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht has said he supports the idea of holding seminars for Ukrainian businessmen to get acquainted with the proposed free trade area between Ukraine and the EU.

"Generally speaking, we would certainly like to have those seminars with your business people, because I think it is in our mutual interest that business people in your country and the EU are very well aware of the provisions of the free trade area, and how it will be organized. But as a matter of principle, we are in favor of that, and this is what we are always doing – trying to get as many people as possible informed," he said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine in Brussels.

The commissioner said that the creation of a free trade area would "certainly be very beneficial to your economy, because the EU is the biggest market, and it is a market of great opportunities."

"So it will be a mutually beneficial deal, but obviously Ukraine will have a lot of advantages concerning when they can freely enter the EU market," he said.

De Gucht said that "some [people] in your country are claiming that they will lose a lot of income, because a lot of tariffs will vanish over time."

"Yes, but this can give you more income on the VAT side. So, there is no reason at all, I would say, for the country to be negative about the outcome of such a deep and comprehensive free trade area. I personally believe that the deeper it is, the more profitable it will be for your country," he said.

When asked when Ukrainian meat and dairy products could enter the European market, the commissioner said that "it could be possible if the tariff offers and quota offers are in balance."

"Let me give you an example. Initially we agreed on a much higher quota for grain, and now we [should reduce our offer, because your offers] on a lot of olive products are very low. I think that our ambitions for the next round [of talks] that will take place in December should foresee these quotas being brought to the previous high level," he said.