The problem of Polish farmers should be solved together with the EU – Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland
1 March 2024 13:29
The protests of Polish farmers concern not only Polish-Ukrainian trade, but also affect the interests of third European countries, so they should be resolved in a trilateral format between Ukraine, Poland and the EU. This opinion was expressed in an exclusive interview with Kommersant Ukrainian 
was expressed by Andriy Deshchytsia, former Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland.
He pointed out that Polish farmers no longer want to see Ukrainian products not only in their country but also in other European markets.
“Polish farmers are now starting to say that Ukrainian agricultural products should not enter not only the Polish market, but also European markets in general. This is a change in rhetoric, because the Polish and Ukrainian governments have been saying that since last September, Ukrainian grain has not entered Poland, it has only been in transit. So what is the problem? They have now invented a new story. The protesters now claim that Ukrainian grain is allegedly in transit through Poland, then goes to Lithuania or Slovakia and returns to the Polish market. And they have started to block the borders with these countries as well,”
– says the diplomat.
“Kommersant Ukrainsky wrote that other European farmers joined the attack on Ukrainian products. In particular, six major European farmers’ associations have also made a strong protest against Ukrainian products. Since the problem now affects other European countries, it should be addressed at the EU level, the former ambassador believes.
“I believe that the problems at the border can be solved only in a trilateral format – Ukraine, Poland and the European Commission should cooperate, because the farmers’ demands actually concern all three parties,”
– andrii Deshchytsia is convinced.
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 ministers of agriculture 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 European Commission took these comments into account when preparing a draft decision to extend the preferential trade regime with Ukraine and issued a compromise version, which is actually quite harsh on Ukrainian products. At the very least, it creates severe barriers to further growth of Ukrainian exports. However, even this option does not satisfy these countries and farmers’ groups.
Border blockade
Problems at the border began as early as 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.
on 9 February 2024, Polish farmers began 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. The main demand of the protesters is to cancel the preferential trade regime with Ukraine and to return the permit system for importing goods into Poland.
Meanwhile, Poland has already imposed an embargo on Ukrainian grain, Polish Deputy Agriculture Minister Michal Kolodziejczak said.
Polish Minister of Development and Technology Krzysztof Hetman, in turn, said that Poland could impose an embargo on all Ukrainian agricultural products.
Ukrainians responded by blocking the border for Polish trucks.
The situation is deteriorating every day. There are cases of Ukrainian agricultural products in transit being dumped in Poland. For example, on the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, on 24 February, at around 9am, unknown persons damaged freight wagons with beans. And on 25 February, eight wagons with Ukrainian corn were opened.
