Several dozen Polish hauliers blocked three crossing points to protest the liberalization of EU border transport rules, causing their income to drop.
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Several dozen Polish transporters blocked three border points between Poland and Ukraine on Monday to protest against what they consider unfair competition from companies from the neighboring country.
Almost all road traffic was blocked by trucks lined up by protesters who blame the drop in their income on the liberalization of European Union (EU) border transport rules.
“We want the rules of fair competition to be restored,” Rafal Mekler, co-organizer of the demonstration, told Agence France-Presse in Dorohusk (east of the country).
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU abandoned the licensing system governing the entry of Ukrainian transport companies into Europe.
According to Polish truck drivers, this decision led to an increase in the number of Ukrainian competitors in the sector, which seriously affected their profits.
The costs of maintaining trucks, hiring a driver or simply opening a business or insurance are much lower” compared to Poland, noted Marek Oklinski, owner of a transport company.
“They are reducing the price and keeping the products we sold before,” Oklinski added.
Protesters set up similar blockades at the Hrebenne and Korczowa border crossings, promising to allow the passage of individual vehicles as well as humanitarian and military aid destined for Ukraine.
Poland’s Infrastructure Ministry said Warsaw could not meet protesters’ demands given European rules.
“The agreement was signed by the EU…, from a practical point of view, Poland does not have the means to restore the licensing system before the agreement ends,” the ministry said in a press release sent, asking the protesters to stop doing it. the locks.
Source: Observadora
