27 Jun 2024 --- Accession negotiations between the EU and Ukraine, which begin this week, are a chance to elevate the country’s animal welfare standards, says a leading animal protection group. Lobby group Eurogroup for Animals has expressed concerns that animal welfare standards in Ukraine fall below EU levels and don’t align with EU member states. It describes the accession talks as an opportunity for the country to match those of its potential EU counterparts. The group says that in 2023, millions of animals were farmed and slaughtered in the country, of which 712 million were poultry.