The country's government approved the demands of the strikers
Truck traffic on the road to the Medika-Shegini border checkpoint has been resumed in Poland. This was reported by the State Border Service of Ukraine. At the time of the opening of the checkpoint in front of the checkpoint, according to the State Border Service, 650 trucks were waiting to enter.
“According to information received from the Border Guard Service of the Republic of Poland, on January 6 at 21.00 the protest ended in front of the Medika-Shegini checkpoint. Registration and passage of cargo vehicles across the border to enter Ukraine is carried out as usual,” the State Border Service of Ukraine reported.
This happened due to the fact that the Polish government signed an agreement with farmers to end the blockade of the border with Ukraine. Negotiations between officials and farmers lasted 17 hours. After this, the head of the Subcarpathian Voivodeship, Teresa Kubas-Gul, announced at a press conference the signing of an agreement between the parties.
The authorities promised to satisfy all the demands of farmers: launching subsidies for corn, increasing lending and maintaining the agricultural tax at the 2023 level. Subsidies must be approved by the European Commission, and the cancellation of the 21% tax increase must be approved by the Polish Sejm. The loans must be guaranteed by local authorities, who will then receive compensation from the state budget.
It was also decided that the head of the Podkarpackie voivodeship will create an advisory group on agriculture with the participation of farmers' representatives. “Since yesterday, round-the-clock checks have been carried out to determine whether all transport at the borders is carried out in accordance with current legislation,” said Teresa Kubas-Hul.
According to eyewitnesses, the situation at the checkpoint is now calm, border guards are working at an accelerated pace to clear a traffic jam of 650 trucks.
Recall that on November 6, carriers from Poland began to block automobile checkpoints on the border with Ukraine. They demanded the introduction of commercial permits for Ukrainian carriers and limit their number.
On November 27, Polish farmers from the Deceived Village organization joined the protesting carriers and began to block the Medika-Shegini checkpoint. The dissatisfaction of farmers was caused not only by an increase in taxes and cuts in subsidies, but also by the decision of the European Commission to lift the trade ban on grain from Ukraine from September 15.
On December 23, they suspended the blockade. Despite the attempts of the Polish government to prevent a second blockade of the Medika-Shegini checkpoint on the Ukrainian border, farmers resumed their strike on January 4. Then Polish farmers announced that the protest would last until February 3. However, due to the agreement of the authorities to the conditions of Polish farmers, it ended ahead of schedule.