Acquisition of Agricultural Land by Domestic and Foreign Legal Entities: Legal Prospects for Ukraine and other Countries

Abstract

The aim of the research was to assess the legal framework for the acquisition of agricultural land by domestic and foreign legal entities, using the rules and regulations on the agricultural land market in Ukraine as an example of a system with ill-founded restrictions in this area. To accomplish this task, the authors resort to a set of scientific methods, including comparative review, systematic review and standard techniques of text analysis. The main result of the research was that it is imperative for Ukraine, taking into account that European integration is a key and unalterable priority of its foreign policy, to grant a general permission for foreign natural and legal persons to acquire agricultural land, as well as to introduce flexible approaches to setting acquisition limits. It is concluded that, the attention of policy makers should also focus on the need to deploy legal and institutional mechanisms that can respond to the challenges and risks associated with a significant degree of freedom of movement of agricultural land. This could include establishing in contracts for the alienation of agricultural land the obligations of buyers in relation to its rational use.