European Commission supports Ukrainian truckers' right to work in EU without permits - Espreso correspondent from Brussels

This was reported by Espreso correspondent Tetiana Vysotska from Brussels on the Espreso TV channel.

"The issue of transport and the transport blockade of Ukraine was not on the agenda and was not discussed in the EU session hall. However, the European Commission believes that the road transport agreement signed between the EU and Ukraine should not be amended and should last until June 2024. That is, Ukrainian truckers have every right to operate in the EU market without permits. This is supported by all 27 EU member states," she said.

However, three more countries are planning to join Poland and Slovakia.

"The European Commission is not going to make any concessions yet. But media reported that three more countries are planning to join Poland and Slovakia. In particular, the road transport associations of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Lithuania have expressed dissatisfaction with the road transport agreement with Ukraine. Therefore, we may face some more opposition from this side," Vysotska said.

However, the European Commission is now even threatening to punish Poland for the blockade, and does not want to make concessions and cancel the current agreement with Ukraine.

Strikes on the border between Poland and Ukraine

Strikes have erupted on the Poland-Ukraine border due to increased competition following the opening of international transportation between Ukraine and EU nations. To address this, the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development initiated talks with Poland and the European Commission.

Responding to the potential border blockage, the State Border Guard Service provided comments, and Ukraine formally communicated its concerns to Poland regarding the planned strike by Polish carriers at the Ukrainian-Polish border.

On November 6, Polish carriers initiated a strike at the border. The Ministry of Infrastructure noted that no official demands had been submitted by the Polish carriers to Kyiv.

By the evening of November 7, Polish carriers had fully halted the movement of cargo vehicles at two border checkpoints with Ukraine.

Subsequently, it was revealed that trucks are facing up to a 90-hour wait to enter Ukraine.

On November 9, a meeting of government officials and carriers blocking the border with Ukraine took place in Poland, but it concluded without any resolution. Simultaneously, the lines of trucks are growing longer. Consequently, Ukraine has suggested to the Polish authorities the initiation of lanes for empty trucks and is currently awaiting their response.

On November 15, trilateral talks with Poland and the European Commission on unblocking the crossing points took place, but they did not yield any results. Instead, the European Commission may initiate measures against Poland if the authorities do not resolve the issue of carriers blocking checkpoints on the border with Ukraine.

Polish carriers have promised to tighten the blockade on the border with Ukraine. In addition, customs officers have begun to record an increase in truck queues in the Slovak direction.

Ukraine and Poland are preparing claims for damages caused by the blockade of border crossing points due to the rally of Polish carriers. In addition, it has been reported that Polish carriers are not allowing humanitarian aid and dangerous goods to pass through.