Polish farmers initiate a blockade of the Slovak border to halt the importation of Ukrainian grain.
Polish farmers have initiated the blockade of a border crossing with Slovakia today, alleging its use as a conduit for Ukrainian produce entering Poland, circumventing the ongoing blockade of the Ukrainian border that commenced earlier this month. Later this week, farmers intend to extend the blockade to the Lithuanian border, another EU member state within the Schengen Zone.
In parallel, Poland's main opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS), has urged the government to immediately embargo Ukrainian goods, despite the potential violation of EU trade regulations.
Around 10 a.m. on Monday, a group of farmers arrived with numerous tractors at the highway leading to the Slovak border crossing in the village of Barwinek in southeast Poland. Initially, they entirely obstructed the crossing for an hour before allowing one truck per hour in each direction, causing extensive queues on both sides. Private vehicles are permitted to pass.
Maciej Wirzowski, one of the protest organizers, explained to Polsat News that they would scrutinize trucks to ascertain whether they transported grain. The protest aims to challenge the influx of Ukrainian goods, including grain, from Slovakia into Poland.
Another organizer, Piotr Kędzior, expressed hope for national stability and anticipated negotiations with the government. He outlined the blockade's schedule, slated to conclude by 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Earlier this month, Polish farmers launched a 30-day strike against Ukrainian agricultural imports and EU climate policies, which they assert undermine domestic producers' economic interests.
Zbigniew Łożański, a Barwinek protest organizer, underscored the farmers' dire situation and the necessity for governmental intervention. He emphasized the need for financial support for farmers to avert economic hardships.
The mayor of Dukla emphasized solidarity with Ukraine while advocating for local farmers' economic interests.
Furthermore, plans are underway to initiate a week-long blockade at the Lithuanian border, where farmers allege the transit of Ukrainian produce through a "carousel system." This setup purportedly involves the transport of Ukrainian grain to Lithuania and back into Poland as EU goods.
The recent blockade also disrupted a major transport route to Germany. Farmers across Europe have staged protests against EU environmental policies in recent weeks.
Poland's government, empathetic to the farmers' plight, seeks solutions at the EU level. Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski engaged in discussions with European counterparts in Brussels today, advocating for restrictions on Ukrainian imports and aspects of the EU's "Green Deal" initiative.
However, PiS, the eurosceptic opposition, demands the immediate imposition of a unilateral embargo on Ukrainian imports, despite potential conflicts with EU trade regulations. Mateusz Morawiecki, former PiS prime minister, advocates for the embargo's enforcement without regard for Brussels' opposition.