The European Commission wants to deny Ukraine access to—or restrict its access to—EU agricultural markets and subsidies should it join the union, the Financial Times reports, citing an internal EC document.

The measures are intended to allay concerns in Poland, France, and Italy over a potential influx of cheap Ukrainian grain. In return, Brussels is offering to help Kyiv restore exports to its traditional markets.

The EU enlargement reform itself involves developing step-by-step integration plans for the most advanced candidates, including Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro, and Albania. But European capitals fear that, due to corruption scandals in Ukraine, such an accelerated process will lead to a watering down of requirements regarding the fight against corruption and the rule of law.

At the same time, Brussels is gradually reducing its financial and trade support for Kyiv. Since last June, the EU has reinstated tariff quotas on agricultural products, reducing the quota for wheat to 1.3 million metric tons, and this past August, European Commission spokesperson Markus Lammerth confirmed the decision not to allocate an additional 220 million euros to Ukrainian farmers.

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