We ask, we bow, we negotiate, and Poland must set conditions, Confederation MP Andrzej Zapałowski said during a discussion about the airlines’ protest.
European Union decisions favored Ukrainian airlines at the expense of Polish airlines, resulting in ongoing protests. These are Korczowa, Dorohusk and Hrebenne. Brussels has completely waived the obligation for Ukrainians to obtain trade permits.
Polish carriers mainly want to restore normal economic relations, that is, restore access permits for Ukrainian companies to transport goods, with the exception of humanitarian aid and supplies for the Ukrainian army. Recently, the media has finally become more interested in the issue. A few days ago, the co-organizer of the strike, Rafał Mekler, spoke on Polsat News about the reasons for the airlines’ protest.
Zapałowski: The mayor is intimidated
On Wednesday, the Sejm agenda included the topic “Information from the Prime Minister on the protests of Polish transporters and farmers at the Polish-Ukrainian border.”
On behalf of the Confederation, which has been dealing with the issue for a long time, MPs Andrzej Zapałowski and Witold Tumanowicz spoke.
Zapałowski said that PiS only started responding after a month of the protest. The MP provided very disturbing information. Well, the mayor of Radymno municipality revealed that he is receiving criminal threats from Ukrainian circles and his family is being intimidated because he agreed to the protest of Polish carriers in Korczowa. In addition, the local Polish police are said to have put pressure on the mayor to revoke the strike permit.
Zapałowski: Poland should set the conditions
– It must be said directly in this room – Zapałowski told parliamentarians – when it comes to Ukraine, the Ukrainian government is blocking the return of Polish trucks to Poland. (…) In Poland we are dealing with a situation where farmers are blocking in defense of their interests, airlines are blocking in defense of their interests, and on the other side it is the government of Ukraine – said the MP.
– And this is a government dependent on Poland. We ask, we beg, we bow, we negotiate, when in fact we should be setting the terms, he added.
The minister promises action
The new Minister of Infrastructure, Alvin Gajadhur, spoke on behalf of the government. The politician said that “in light of the agreement on liberalization of road transport between the European Union and Ukraine, the decision to reinstate the permits falls within the competence of the European Union.”
– Recently, the number of transport activities by Ukrainian carriers has increased, which is the result of the temporary lack of commercial transport permits due to the EU-Ukraine Agreement of June 29, 2020, valid until June 30, 2024 – said Gajadhur.
– Another problem is the e-queuing system introduced by the Ukrainian side – the minister emphasized, adding that its inefficient operation was the direct cause of Polish airlines.
Gajadhur announced actions to solve the problem at the Polish-Ukrainian border.
Source: Do Rzeczy
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
