Polish farmers blockade border over grain crisis
Polish farmers have escalated their protest against the influx of Ukrainian grain by intensifying their blockade of the Medyka-Shehyni border crossing.
The blockade, which began yesterday, is expected to last 48 hours but may be extended until the end of the year.
The protesters have halted truck traffic, demanding immediate action from both Warsaw and Brussels to address the growing crisis. They fear that the influx of cheap Ukrainian grain, coupled with the potential influx of South American agricultural products under the EU-Mercosur trade deal, could devastate the European agricultural sector.
To underscore their demands, the farmers have implemented a strict one-truck-per-hour policy at the border crossing. Over 150 trucks are currently awaiting entry into Ukraine. While the blockade has disrupted commercial traffic, it has not affected the movement of personal vehicles or humanitarian aid.
The farmers' primary demands include maintaining the current agricultural tax level and blocking the EU-Mercosur trade deal. They argue that a tax increase would further strain their already struggling businesses, and the Mercosur deal would lead to a flood of cheap, subsidised agricultural products from South America, threatening the livelihoods of European farmers.
Polish Agriculture Minister Czeslaw Siekierski has visited the border to address the farmers' concerns. He reiterated the government's opposition to the EU-Mercosur deal and assured the farmers that they are taking steps to protect their interests at both the national and European levels.
The EU-Mercosur trade deal, which has been under negotiation for several years, has faced significant opposition from various European countries, including France and Poland. These countries fear that the deal would lead to increased competition and lower prices for European farmers.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
