EU to tighten control over Ukrainian grain exports
2 March 2024 08:11
The European Union will step up checks on carriers’ compliance with their obligations when exporting grain from Ukraine to respond to concerns raised by farmers who have organised protests at the borders. This was stated in a commentary to Reuters by European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean, Kommersant Ukrainian reports 
According to her, closing borders is never a good idea, “especially borders with a neighbour who needs to be connected.”
“As long as the agreements are implemented correctly, there should be no problems, and we are working to strengthen their implementation. In other words, we have to check, make sure that operators do not violate the agreements, that they can only carry out bilateral operations, that they have the right to transit,”
– the European Commissioner added.
In addition, Adina Valean stressed that EU countries benefit from trade with Ukraine. The European Commissioner stressed that exports by road from Poland, Romania and Slovakia to Ukraine grew by double digits and exceeded the growth in the supply of goods from Ukraine to these countries.
This, she said, “shows that there is a profitable exchange for countries that share a common border”.
As you know, farmers are protesting across Europe over a number of complaints, including what they call “unfair competition” from Ukraine.
Countries in Ukraine’s neighbourhood claim to have been affected by the EU’s moves to open “solidarity routes” by waiving customs duties and introducing other measures to help Ukraine get its grain to market during a full-scale Russian invasion.
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.
The border blockade is currently ongoing, with Polish farmers blocking truck traffic at six checkpoints. According to the State Border Guard Service, there are more than 2,500 trucks in the queues.
Meanwhile, Poland has already imposed an embargo on Ukrainian grain, according to Polish Deputy Agriculture Minister Michal Kolodziejczak.
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.
