Policy

Blockade of the border with Poland and Hungary: farmers will go on strike today

Today, 9 February, Polish farmers will start a month-long strike at the Rava-Ruska-Hrebenne, Shehyni-Medyka and Yahodyn-Dorogusk checkpoints, the with reference to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

According to preliminary information, on 9 February at 10.00 a strike of Polish farmers will begin in the areas bordering the Ukrainian checkpoints of Yagodyn, Rava-Ruska and Shehyni.

“The protesters are determined to let one truck per hour through the Yagodyn and Shehyni checkpoints, and two trucks per hour in the direction of the Rava-Ruska checkpoint. Humanitarian cargo and buses will be allowed through unhindered,”

– the statement reads.

Hungarian border guards also warn of farmers’ protests on 9 February on the road to the Záhony checkpoint, which is opposite the Ukrainian Chop (Tisa ) checkpoint. The protesters are not expected to block the passage of vehicles.

In addition, strikes are planned at the Ustyluh-Zosyn and Uhryniv-Dolhobychuv checkpoints starting 12 February. Three trucks per hour will be allowed to pass through the checkpoints.

Earlier, Polish customs officials warned the Ukrainian side that on 9 February at 11am, protesters planned to start blockading the Yagodyn-Dorogusk international checkpoint. The protest is expected to last until 9 March 2024.

Denys Marchuk , deputy head of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council, said in a comment said that the farmers’ strikes are caused by many issues within the European Union in the context of reforming the agricultural sector.

“I don’t think the Poles themselves know how long it will last, but it is clear that it will be until all the controversial issues are resolved. And you can imagine how many of them there are in the context of the European integration of the Ukrainian agricultural sector, the further distribution of subsidies that should be available to Ukraine. So, this is a heated situation. It is also caused by many issues within the European Union in the context of reforming the agricultural sector. There are also ongoing actions there,”

– the expert believes.

He noted that the next farmers’ protests are scheduled for June, which is a very big challenge facing Ukraine as well.

“Ukraine is also being held hostage in these big issues of the European Union. When the Poles or Hungarians protest over issues they raise with the European Commission, Ukraine is also involved. Because Ukraine is a sensitive issue. There is a war in Ukraine, and everything that concerns Ukraine is more actively reacted to. That’s why they use this method, among other things, for communication with the EC. Not without it,”

– emphasised Marchuk.

Blockade of Ukrainian borders

Ukraine’s economy has suffered losses of more than €1.5 billion due to the suspension of operations at the western border crossing points over the past two months.

On 6 November, Polish transport companies began blocking truck traffic at three major checkpoints on the Ukrainian border: “Korczowa-Krakowiec, Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska and Dorohusk-Yagodyn. One of the requirements was to reinstate the permits for Ukrainian carriers that had been cancelled under the agreement with the EU by 30 June 2024.

On6 January, truck traffic to the Medyka-Shehyni border crossingin Poland resumed. Three other border crossing points were opened on 17 January, namely Dorohusk – Yagodyn, Hrebenne – Rava-Ruska, and Korczowa – Krakivets.

In Romania, on 13 and 14 January, local farmers blocked the movement of Ukrainian trucks through the Siret checkpoint, and on 15 January, they began blocking the Vicovu de Sus checkpoint. on 18 January, Romanian farmers began blockading the Dyakove-Halmeu checkpoint. However, as of 20 January, these checkpoints were reopened.

The preferential trade regime and its opponents

Many EU members do not like the quota-free import of Ukrainian products to the EU, which was in effect in 2022-2023. In particular, a number of Eastern European countries are demanding that the EU impose import duties on Ukrainian goods, citing unfair competition. The agriculture ministers of Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia sent a letter to the European Commission asking for action, saying that cheaper agricultural products from Ukraine were eating into their export markets.

The Ukrainian side tried to reach an agreement with the ‘problematic’ countries.” In particular, on 26 January, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted a resolution that improves the rules for exporting certain types of agricultural products. According to the resolution, a company may be excluded from the list of verified agricultural entities if it violates these rules.

When preparing the decision, the European Commission also considered special mechanisms for each individual country, which would have been to stop the export of Ukrainian goods to a particular national market if this product oversaturates it. The current decision of the EC seems to be even tougher than expected, and it restores quotas for some Ukrainian products, even if they are at the average level of Ukrainian exports.