“Our patience has run out. The position of Brussels on the last day of January 2024 is unacceptable for our entire agricultural community. In addition, the passivity of the Polish authorities and the declarations of cooperation with the European Commission and the announcements of respecting all decisions of the European Commission on the import of agricultural produce and food products from Ukraine leave us no other choice but to announce a general strike”, reported the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union of Individual Farmers “Solidarity”.

Protests are planned across the country on Friday 9 February by farmers who oppose the introduction of the Green Deal and the influx of goods from Ukraine. The protests are taking place in 260 locations.

“There is no agreement on the implementation of the European Green Deal, the EU’s farm-to-table strategy and the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy as proposed”, according to agricultural Solidarity.

The protesters highlight that “the Polish government, must have a clear plan for agricultural production, the profitability of production, the reconstruction of Polish processing and Polish trade. This is what we will fight for as long as we can. Polish family farms are the basis of the country’s food security. Healthy Polish food produced by Polish farmers is the basis for the nutrition and health of Polish citizens”, they add.

“We call on our members to act together and express our opposition to the current situation.  NSZZ RI “Solidarność” calls for unity and constructive action for the good of the entire agricultural community”. In connection with the announced agricultural protests, NSZZ RI “Solidarność” informs about temporary road blockades throughout the country from 9 February to 10 March 2024.

Farmers’ protests are also in progress in Germany, France, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Bulgaria.

“European agriculture is losing its competitiveness. The biggest losses, due to the influx of agricultural products from Ukraine, have been suffered by Polish farmers”, said Czeslaw Siekierski, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, on Wednesday after a meeting with farmers.

Adrian Andrzejewski