Poland and the European Commission cannot reach a compromise regarding the blockade of Ukraine

Poland will demand that the European Commission revoke the visa-free transportation for Ukraine,” said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

He made this promise to Polish carriers who were protesting at the border with Ukraine. According to the Prime Minister, the system of permits that was in place until April 2022 regulated the transportation market “equivalently and fairly.” However, the European Commission advocates for maintaining the “visa-free transportation.” European Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean called the idea of reinstating permits for Ukrainian drivers unacceptable. She also criticized the Polish authorities for inaction.

“I find it unacceptable for the government in Poland to wash its hands, saying it’s something between local authorities, the European Commission and ultimately Ukraine. As the central authority, we have no say in this: our hands are tied. I don’t consider this an acceptable explanation,” she added. To recap, Polish truck drivers, followed by Slovak truck drivers, blocked the borders with Ukraine. Over the course of one and a half months of the blockade, Ukraine has already lost hundreds of millions of dollars.