On 20 February, Polish farmers will block all border crossings between Poland and Ukraine and access roads to railway transshipment stations and seaports. This was announced by the Solidarity trade union of individual farmers, reports 
“On 20 February, as part of a 30-day general strike of farmers, we announce that the entire protest action will be focused on a complete blockade of all border crossings between Poland and Ukraine and local protests. Not only border crossings will be blocked, but also transport hubs, access roads to railway transshipment stations and seaports,”
– the trade union said.
They note that they are protesting against the uncontrolled flow of goods from Ukraine to Poland due to the EU’s decision.
“The problem of profitability of agricultural production, processing and other industries in our country is the uncontrolled flow of goods from Ukraine that are imported through the opening of the EU border with this country,”
– farmers believe.
Polish protesters are calling on the public to support their action. They claim that their action is aimed at “ensuring food security in the country”.
Farmers’ protests continue not only in Poland but also across Europe. The producers are opposed, in particular, to EU rules related to the European Green Deal.
Border blockade
on 9 February 2024, Polish farmers launched a new nationwide strike and blockade of the border with Ukraine, which will last until 10 March. It was initiated by the independent farmers’ trade union Solidarity. Starting from 12 February, they plan to block all checkpoints. The main demand of the protesters is to cancel the preferential trade regime with Ukraine and return the permit system for importing goods into Poland.
Problems at the border began on 6 November 2023, when 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 blocking the Dyakove-Halmeu checkpoint. However, as of 20 January, these checkpoints were reopened.
The preferential trade regime and its opponents
Many EU members did not like the quota-free imports of Ukrainian products to the EU, which was in effect in 2022-2023. In particular, a number of Eastern European countries demanded 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.
At the end of January 2024, the European Commission effectively reintroduced quotas for some Ukrainian goods. It extended the special preferential regime with Ukraine for a year, but set special conditions and safeguards for some goods.
In particular, in order to “stabilise imports at the level of average volumes in 2022-2023”, the EU has come up with an “emergency braking” mechanism for three products: poultry, eggs and sugar.
In practice, this means setting a quota at the level of the average export volume in 2022-2023, exceeding which will automatically result in an import tariff being applied to the products.
This decision must then be approved by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.
Thus, the EC’s decision virtually reintroduces quotas for some Ukrainian products, even if at the average level of Ukrainian exports. However, even this compromise solution does not suit the Polish farmers’ union.