Protest at the border with Ukraine suspended. Representatives of unions of international road hauliers have signed an agreement with the government. Pickets at three border crossings in Korczowa, Hrebenne and Dorohusk are to be ceased by March.

“We got it, we signed the agreement. The effect of the agreement will be the cessation of protests at border crossings”, said Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak at a press conference.

The minister stressed that the agreement is the result of constructive cooperation with the carriers. The issues we raised were very difficult, lying idle for many years. They concerned not only the Ministry of Infrastructure. This problem concerns international and domestic politics”, he said.

The minister announced that he would work together with representatives of transporters on target solutions and regulations for international road transport.

“The protest will be discontinued by 1 March. This does not mean the end of the dialogue, on the contrary, we will hold intensive talks to give the implementation of the provisions we have negotiated”, said Klimczak.

The road hauliers demanded the introduction of a licence for Ukrainian transport companies to transport goods, as well as the elimination of transport by Ukrainians prohibited by the European Union. The abolition of so-called e-railways on the Ukrainian side was also one of the demands.

Representatives of transport workers stipulate that if a target agreement cannot be reached, the protest will be resumed.

“If solutions cannot be reached, we will return to the border. We are giving the ministry a mandate of confidence. This is not a capitulation, but a strategic pause”, wrote one of the leaders of the Polish Carriers’ Protest and Confederation activist Rafal Mekler on social media.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński