Slovakian truckers begin a blockade of the country’s border with Ukraine, Reuters reports.
Until the European Union meets their demands for tougher rules on Ukrainian competitors, the drivers have vowed to close the truck crossing almost entirely.
The head of the Slovak trade union UNAS, Stanislav Skala, said that his team is ready to block the Višne Nemetske – Uzhhorod border crossing, the only border crossing for heavy goods vehicles, from 15:00 local time.
Slovak carriers join Polish carriers, which have blocked several border points with Ukraine since November 6. This blockade diverted some traffic through Slovakia, causing kilometer-long queues of hundreds of trucks on the approach to the border.
Polish and Slovak truckers complain that Ukrainian carriers offer lower prices for their services and, moreover, transport goods within the EU, not just between the EU and Ukraine.
Truck drivers in both countries are demanding that the EU restore the system of granting a limited number of permits to Ukrainian companies to operate in the Union and for European truck drivers to enter Ukraine. The permits were dropped after the Russian invasion.
“We will block the border and let four trucks through every hour,” Skala said.
Military supplies, humanitarian shipments and perishable goods and animal supplies will also be allowed through.
Skala specified that the blockade will be carried out in both directions by several cars and in coordination with the police. The traffickers will have a team of several people who will guard the blockade in shifts.
The next decision will come after EU transport ministers meet on Monday in Brussels, where Polish, Slovak and Hungarian delegations are expected to raise the issue.
“Our only request is the return of the permits. We are not interested in politics, we just need to protect our market,” Skala pointed out.
The protesters are also demanding the implementation of rules allowing Ukrainian companies to transport to and from the EU, but not to carry out domestic transport within the EU.
Kiev has said it will not compromise on the issue of permits for Ukrainian drivers.
European Transport Commissioner Adina Valean said a few days ago that Ukraine and the EU cannot be “held hostage” by the Polish truck drivers blocking the border.
The situation is “unacceptable” and Brussels reserves the right to intervene to ensure compliance with the rules and enforcement of the law, she warned.
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2023-12-01 15:21:00
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