Polish farmers plan to resume protests on the borders with Ukraine after the completion of field work. The main reason for these protests is concern about the decrease in prices for agricultural products, which, in their opinion, is caused by the influx of cheap Ukrainian products into the Polish market.
The publication notes that a significant drop in purchase prices was recorded in the purchase of raspberries. According to Polish farmers, they now receive from 6.5 to 7 zlotys (70-75 UAH) per kilogram of raspberries. This is below the level of profitability. Farmers fear that purchase prices will fall further.
Polish farmers say that Poland cannot compete with Ukraine on the international market, because the cost of production there is much lower. Ukrainians are not obliged to meet strict EU environmental standards. In addition, the control system for Ukrainian goods arriving in Poland still does not work.
What is known about the protests of Polish farmers
On November 6, 2023, Polish transporters began blocking the movement of trucks at the checkpoints "Krakivets-Korchova", "Yagodin-Dorogusk" and "Rava-Ruska-Grebenne".
With reference to the International Transport Association, the "Ukravtoprom" association noted that the reason for the strikes is excessive competition after the liberalization of international transportation between Ukraine and the EU.
On November 23, Polish farmers joined the strikes at the border, protesting at the Sheghini-Medyka checkpoint.
On December 11, Polish carriers stopped the strike at the Yagodin - Dorogusk checkpoint. The customs office worked as usual, the passage of trucks was restored in both directions.
On December 18, Polish carriers again blocked the movement of trucks at the Yagodyn-Dorogusk international checkpoint.
On January 16, Polish carriers, who had been blocking checkpoints on the border with Ukraine since November, reached an agreement on "certain conditions" with the government of the Republic of Poland and suspended the protest.
On February 9, farmers in Poland started a nationwide strike. The protest will last at least until March 10.
A few days later, Polish farmers announced that they intend to block all checkpoints on the border with Ukraine on February 20.
On February 22, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that the Polish authorities will add border crossings with Ukraine, as well as sections of highways and railways, to the list of critical infrastructure objects. As Tusk said then, within the next few hours after the decision is made, it will allow the removal of obstacles on the Polish-Ukrainian border for the supply of weapons and humanitarian aid.
The borders with Poland were finally unblocked at the end of April 2024.
