Polish farmers look for Ukrainian grain at Lithuania border
Protesting Polish farmers have launched a week-long blockade of the Budzisko-Kalvarija crossing on the border between Poland and Lithuania, local authorities in Kalvarija reported via Facebook on March 1.
The farmers were checking incoming trucks for Ukrainian grain, with many arriving at the protest site around 10:30 a.m. Lithuanian officials arrived at the border around 11 a.m., news website Delfi reports.
Private individuals are prohibited from stopping vehicles and inspecting cargo, according to Polish law. Customs and police officers perform this function, while farmers monitor the process from a distance.
While the protestors don't stop cars or small trucks, they select some vehicles from the general stream and direct them to a roadside parking lot, Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT reported.
"They are interfering with us; the farmers have already been blocking our roads for a week,” one truck driver said.
“It is hard for us; they should organize this differently. I am a driver, I’m self-employed. It is also hard for me, I agree, but why block the road? What are we, drivers, doing wrong?"
Polish farmers announced a complete blockade of the Ukrainian border from Feb. 20. Traffic is blocked at all checkpoints.
Read also: Total Ukraine-Poland border closure would be disastrous, freight forwarder warns
Polish Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski recently said that ongoing talks with Ukraine are nearing completion, focusing on introducing restrictions on the import of agricultural products. While a complete closure of the border with Ukraine is not feasible, strict restrictions can be implemented to ensure thorough control of all incoming products, addressing farmers' demands, he said.
Nevertheless, Kyiv and Warsaw are yet to agree on a solution that would assuage the concerns of Polish farmers regarding cheap Ukrainian agricultural products distorting prices in Poland’s domestic market.
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