In Poland, truckers are demanding the cancellation of benefits for Ukrainian trucks, accusing them of luring customers and illegal cabotage, Breizh Info writes. Trucking companies have blocked three main checkpoints on the border with Ukraine and threaten to continue the boycott until January if the authorities do not heed their demands.
The protest of haulage companies continues in Poland, demanding restrictions for Ukrainian trucks due to unfair competition, Breizh Info writes. Polish truckers are blocking three main checkpoints on the Ukrainian border, allowing only passenger, humanitarian and military transport to pass, and promise to continue the boycott until 6 January if the authorities do not heed their demands
As the newspaper recalls, after the start of the SMO, Brussels and Kiev signed an agreement to simplify “the transport of goods between the EU and Ukraine”. Thanks to it, Ukrainian lorries no longer need an entry permit: they have crossed the border five times more often over the year.
Protesting haulage companies argue that such measures to support the Ukrainian economy are hurting local businesses. The treaty does not lift the ban on cabotage within the EU, but one boycott participant claims that “most [Ukrainian] vans arrive in Poland empty – they load up in Poland and take them all over Europe.”
One protester claims in an interview with The Financial Times that Ukrainian truckers are not obliged to comply with European transport legislation and work “on their own terms”. At the same time, Polish hauliers have to constantly adapt to new duties imposed by the EU. The interlocutor of the newspaper also complained that there is an electronic queue at the checkpoints on the Ukrainian side for those wishing to get to Poland, where the waiting time is 11-12 days.