The agriculture ministries of Ukraine and Poland on Dec. 7, 2011, signed a memorandum of cooperation in adapting the Ukrainian agricultural sector and rural areas to European Union (EU) standards.

As the Ukrainian Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry's press service said on Wednesday, the document was signed by Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Mykola Prysiazhniuk and Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Marek Sawicki during the Ukrainian minister's visit to Warsaw, Poland.

"An ad hoc group has been set up by Ukraine and Poland to harmonize standards in agriculture in accordance with the requirements of EU legislation. Therefore, the signing of the memorandum will further promote the implementation of state policy regarding cooperation in agriculture under market-oriented relations and the adaptation of the agricultural sector and rural areas of Ukraine to EU standards," Prysiazhniuk is quoted as saying.

According to the press service, the ministers discussed the dynamics of bilateral trade and economic relations between Poland and Ukraine in the agricultural sector.

Trade in farm products between the two countries has been constantly growing, Prysiazhniuk said.

"In the first eight months of 2011 alone agricultural exports to Poland amounted to $287.6 million and imports totaled $221.8 million. This has already exceeded last year's indicators," the minister said.

The Ukrainian minister and his counterpart also discussed the current condition and prospects of cooperation between the two countries in cattle breeding and veterinary medicine.