President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a law that launches the creation of the Paying Agency, a new independent institution that will be responsible for administering, distributing, and monitoring financial support for farmers. This step is an important stage in reforming the system of state support for the agricultural sector and bringing it closer to European standards.

As stated in the card of the draft law on amendments to a number of laws on the organizational principles of support in the agricultural sector, the Paying Agency should become an analogue of the structures that operate in the European Union countries within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Its main goal is to ensure transparency and efficiency in the use of state and international funds aimed at the development of agriculture.

The new agency will take on the functions of managing financial flows, controlling the implementation of support programs, and monitoring results. Thanks to this, the state will be able to guarantee a fair distribution of assistance among all categories of farmers, regardless of the size of the farm or form of ownership.

The introduction of the Paying Agency, according to government officials, will increase trust in the state support system for farmers, reduce corruption risks, and create a transparent platform for cooperation with international partners. This will also pave the way for more effective use of EU resources and donor funds that are being used to restore Ukrainian agriculture.

The adoption of this law was one of the conditions for harmonizing Ukrainian legislation with EU law in the field of agricultural policy. In addition, the document is part of the broader Ukraine Facility initiative, which is aimed at supporting reforms, sustainability, and economic development of Ukraine.

In addition to the creation of the agency itself, the law provides for the formation of the Integrated Administration and Control System (ICAC), as well as the Agricultural Data System (ADS) - a digital database for collecting, analyzing, and monitoring information on the state of farms. These tools should ensure effective planning of agricultural policy and transparency of financing.

The introduction of new digital systems and the launch of the Paying Agency are scheduled for 2027. It is expected that by that time, Ukraine will have fully adapted administrative mechanisms to the European model, creating a modern institutional framework to support agriculture in the context of post-war reconstruction.