The European Union and the Polish government remain at loggerheads over resolving a protest by Polish carriers closing the border with Ukraine in protest at what they say is unfair competition from their Ukrainian counterparts, who could benefit from a relaxation of EU rules after the Russian invasion. .
Yesterday, during his visit to the border, the new Polish Interior Minister announced that Poland will continue to seek the return of the pre-war entry permit system for Ukrainian trucks. However, on the same day, the EU Transport Commissioner rejected this idea and called for an end to the protest.
Ministry of Infrastructure @AlvinGajadhur highlights protest against deep cuts in Ukraine. “Będziemy dążyli do przywrócenia zezwoleń.” Do tego stanu, który był wcześniej”.#wieszwięcej #Przewoźnicy #Zezwolenia #MinisterNaGranicyhttps://t.co/jkswal89Ua
– tvp.info 🇵🇱 (@tvp_info) December 4, 2023
Since November 6, Polish truck drivers have been preventing most commercial vehicles from crossing the border, resulting in long lines of drivers waiting – often for days at a time – in increasingly cold weather. Humanitarian and military aid are exempt from the blockade.
At a meeting of the European Union Transport Council in Brussels on Monday, Poland called for the return of EU entry permits for Ukrainian transport companies. This is the main demand of the protesting drivers, who say they are being subjected to unfair competition from Ukraine.
However, EU Transport Commissioner Adina Ioana Valian rejected this request, expressing her disappointment that “such an idea was ever put forward.”
“We cannot resume discussions on common commitments every time there are protests in our two countries,” she said, quoted by Deutsche Welle. “I call on everyone to come to their senses and open the borders as soon as possible.”
The European Commission has approved Polsky’s assumption, through the EU’s Ukrainian deregulation regime. – To rozczarowujące, że w ogóle pojawia się taki pomysł – przekonuje commisarz Adina-Ioana Valean. https://t.co/yRmiY4Fg5f
— DW Polski (@dw_polski) December 4, 2023
Last week, the commissioner told Polish radio station RMF FM that the European Union may take legal action against Poland over the border blockade.
“Let us continue the dialogue, but we reserve the right to intervene in this matter, even through an infringement action against those who do not respect the rules and do not abide by EU law,” she added, also accusing the current Polish government of violating the law. He lacks “good faith to find a solution.”
She added: “I support the right to protest, but Ukraine, which is at war, cannot remain their hostage by completely closing its external borders.”
The European Commission strongly condemned the blockade on the Ukrainian border instigated by Polish truck drivers, calling it “completely unacceptable.” The Commission also threatened to take legal action against the government in Warsaw. #EuropeNews https://t.co/dOLpOtMghb pic.twitter.com/eGVuc5NdHZ
– Euronews (@euronews) November 29, 2023
Poland also called on Monday for the convening of a joint EU-Ukraine transport committee. Valian suggested that the committee meet, but only after the blockade is lifted, RMF Radio reported.
She called on the Polish government to communicate with the demonstrators instead of submitting their demands to Brussels, and expressed her hope that a new ruling coalition consisting of opposition groups, which is likely to take power next week, would resolve the issue.
However, while prominent figures from those opposition groups criticized the government over its response to the crisis, they also suggested that the interests of Polish transport companies should be protected, TVN reported.
A protest by Polish transport companies blocking the Ukrainian border intensified this week with a round-the-clock blockade at the fourth crossing.
Poland is set to discuss truck drivers’ demands in Brussels next week https://t.co/4geVgkwuUm
– Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) November 28, 2023
Speaking yesterday, the Minister of Infrastructure in the outgoing Polish government, Alvin Jajador, said they would continue to demand a return to pre-war regulations, the Polish News Agency (PAP) reported.
“Poland will demand that the status quo be restored to what it was before so that Ukrainian carriers do not unfairly seize the market from Polish shipping companies,” Gajador said at a news conference in Hrybin near one of the closed border crossings. Polish News Agency (PAP).
Speaking alongside the minister, one of the protest leaders, Waldemar Jaszczor, said that, as a sign of good faith, they had begun allowing more Ukrainian trucks to pass.
“We are waiting for a gesture from the other side,” he added, noting that this could take the form of Ukraine allowing one border crossing to operate without an electronic queuing system, which, in the opinion of Polish airlines, would force them to stand still. In parking lots for several days while Ukrainian drivers can wait at home.
Wspieramy polskich przewoźników.@MI_GOV_PL @ITD_gov https://t.co/2RfvksLWec
— Alvin Gajadhur (@AlvinGajadhur) December 4, 2023
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Main image credit: Jakub Orzechowski / Agencja Wyborcza.pl
Alicia Ptak is a Notes senior editor from Poland and a multimedia journalist. She previously worked for Reuters.
