Carrier Strike at the Border: Polish Minister of Infrastructure Sends "Proposals" to Ukraine

Polish Minister of Infrastructure Andrzej Adamczyk appealed to his Ukrainian counterpart with a request to exclude the requirement to registration in the electronic queue for vehicles returning from Ukraine to the EU without cargo at at least two border crossings. This was reported on Monday by the Ministry of Infrastructure of Poland, UNN reports with reference to RAP.

Details

The Polish ministry said that Adamczyk sent a letter to the Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine, Minister of for the Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kubrakov, in in connection with the protest of Polish carriers in front of the automobile border crossing points between Poland and Ukraine.

As it was emphasized, one of the reasons for the protest of Polish transport entrepreneurs is the introduction by the Ukrainian of the so-called electronic queue system by the Ukrainian side.

"This has led to a significant increase in the time waiting time for EU-registered vehicles returning from Ukraine without cargo. Ukraine without cargo to cross the EU-Ukraine border. This, in turn, makes it impossible to fulfill further orders and reduces the competitiveness of companies. In addition, according to the protesters, the new system allows for unequal treatment of Ukrainian and Polish carriers," the agency said.

The ministry added that the head of the of the Ministry of Infrastructure "called for urgent measures to fulfill the requirements of of Polish road carriers, which is the responsibility of the Ukrainian side". As explained, this is done in order to eliminate the requirement to register in the electronic queue for vehicles returning from Ukraine to the EU, having previously unloaded at at least two border crossings: Zosin-Ustyluh and Nyzhankovychi-Malchovice.

The agency added that the protesting carriers protesting, mainly demanding the restoration of permits for international transportation, which were canceled in accordance with the agreement between the European Union and Ukraine on July 1, 2022. In this regard, Andrzej Adamczyk appealed to EU Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean with a request to create a joint committee to analyze the impact of the agreement on the EU road transportation market.

"This is an action envisaged by Article 7 of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, and such a committee may include representatives of the of the parties to this agreement. Member states, including Poland, have only an observer role in such a committee. only have an observer role in such a committee. In his address to Commissioner Valean, Minister Adamczyk pointed out, in particular, the problems associated with compliance with the agreement by Ukrainian carriers, as well as a number of violations by Ukrainian carriers, identified by the Polish Road Transport Inspectorate," the statement said. the report says.

Minister Adamczyk also asked the European Commissioner and and the President of the European Commission to support his appeal to the Ukrainian government to terminate the the electronic queue system.

"The above actions are a continuation of the efforts of the of the Ministry of Infrastructure since the beginning of the protest, aimed at eliminating its the causes of the protest, which lie both on the side of Ukraine and the European Union. Preparations are underway for the EU Transport Council meeting to be held on December 4 2023 in Brussels. A proposal is being prepared to make one of the main topics of discussion of the main topics of discussion is to discuss the consequences of this agreement. According to the Ministry of of Infrastructure of Poland, there is a need for the EU authorities to assess the effects that have arisen as a result of the implementation of the agreement between Ukraine and the EU, as well as changes to its content, which are necessary to maintain the stability of the transport market in individual countries of the community," the agency noted.

As a reminder, since November 6, Polish carriers have been protesting at the border crossings with Ukraine, allowing several cars to pass through several cars per hour.

The protesters demand, among other things, the introduction of commercial permits for Ukrainian companies to transport cargo, except for humanitarian aid and supplies for the Ukrainian army; suspension of licenses for companies established after the army; suspension of licenses for companies that were established after the start of the of the war in Ukraine and their verification. There is also a demand to cancel the so-called electronic queue on the Ukrainian side.

The protests of Polish carriers were supported by some farmers and the Confederation political party. Farmers have been blocking the border crossing in Medyka in Prykarpattia since November 23. З Monday, the blockade is to become round-the-clock, and the farmers intend to protest until January 3, 2024.