From 20 February, Polish farmers will significantly escalate their protests by blocking all border crossings between Poland and Ukraine, as well as seaports and railway junctions. The move comes in response to the European Union's extension of duty-free trade for Ukrainian agricultural goods until June 2025, a policy Polish farmers say is severely undermining their livelihoods by flooding the market with cheaper Ukrainian produce.
"The problem with the profitability of agricultural production, processing and other industries in our country is the uncontrolled influx of goods from Ukraine, imported because of the opening of the EU border with that country," commented the independent agricultural trade union Solidarity.
In recent weeks, the protests have already caused significant disruption, with more than two thousand trucks queuing at the Polish-Ukrainian border and waiting times of more than 300 hours at the Medyka crossing. The farmers' grievances stem from what they see as unfair competition that makes their own production unprofitable, prompting a nationwide blockade that began on 9 February and is scheduled to last until 10 March.
The upcoming blockade is not only a continuation of the farmers' protests against the EU's climate policy and the import of cheaper Ukrainian goods but also a stand against the perceived inaction of the Polish government. Despite a temporary halt following a compensation deal with the government in January, the farmers have returned to the blockades and are now aiming to completely stop the rail transport of Ukrainian goods, specifically targeting the rail hub at Hrubieszów.
This protest raises concerns about the potential impact on Ukrainian exports, crucial during its wartime economy, and the overall strain on Polish-Ukrainian relations. With thousands of railway wagons and trucks carrying Ukrainian agricultural products passing through Poland this year, the blockades pose a significant challenge to trade and diplomatic efforts in the region.
