Prior to the opening of EU – Ukrainian borders, Ukrainian companies had a 60% share in cross-border transportation with Poland. Now, they have 90% and Polish truckers are angry about it. The EU once again ignores the will of its people for the sake of controlling post-war Ukraine.
In the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU’s decision to open borders for the transportation of aid and grain has led to a protest by Polish transport companies and truckers. For three weeks now, they are blocking border crossings to Ukraine, expressing frustration over cheap competition from Ukrainian counterparts. The Dorohusk-Jagodin crossing, a vital route between Warsaw and Kyiv, witnesses truck backups of 30 kilometers. Ukrainian drivers are stranded in Poland, facing harsh conditions and limited resources.
Before the conflict, Ukrainian companies held a 60% share of cross-border transportation, with Polish companies at 40%. However, the open borders policy shifted this to 90% for Ukrainian companies and 10% for Polish ones. The protesters demand the reintroduction of entry permits for non-EU country drivers, abolished for Ukrainians in 2022. They argue that this would help Polish transport companies regain lost market shares.
While the protest allows humanitarian and military transports, allegations of corruption on the Ukrainian side and claims of bribes for smoother border crossings have emerged. The situation has escalated, with armed Polish police guarding the border. Amidst concerns about the blockade’s impact on Ukraine, including two deaths in the tailback, tensions persist.
