Brussels threatens Poland with legal action over 'unacceptable' truckers blockade at Ukraine border

euronews (in English)

The European Commission has harshly denounced the blockade at the Ukrainian border instigated by Polish truckers and farmers, threatening legal action against the government in Warsaw.

Transcript

00:00 Brussels is accusing Poland of not doing enough to put an end to a round-the-clock blockade

00:06 by truckers and farmers on the border with Ukraine.

00:09 For days, thousands of lorries have been stranded in queues as truckers claim they are losing

00:14 out to Ukrainian companies transporting goods inside the European Union.

00:20 There is not good faith in finding a solution.

00:23 This is my evaluation today.

00:25 And it's a nearly complete lack of involvement of Polish authorities.

00:30 And I'm saying that because the Polish authorities are the ones who are supposed to enforce the

00:35 law at that border.

00:38 And while I support the right of people to protest, the entire EU, not to mention Ukraine,

00:44 a country currently at war, cannot be taken hostage by blocking our external borders.

00:51 It's as simple as that.

00:54 Polish truckers started the protest earlier this month to call on Brussels to force Ukrainian

00:59 counterparts to obtain a permit to enter the block, except for those carrying humanitarian

01:03 aid or military supplies.

01:06 This would be a return to a previous system that was paused after Russia launched its

01:09 full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year.

01:13 They argue that they are losing out to Ukrainian companies that are offering cheaper rates

01:17 to transport goods.

01:18 Meanwhile, Ukrainian drivers have been waiting in their trucks to cross the border as temperatures

01:22 are now freezing, and many are worried about the situation back home.

01:27 We need to work together.

01:30 And as soon as possible, because in Ukraine there is war.

01:34 People die every day.

01:36 Business is also important, but there are normal people dying and cities and villages

01:41 are disappearing.

01:43 The European Commission says it is talking to all parties involved to find a solution,

01:47 but also stressed that it could intervene to ensure rules are respected and laws are

01:52 followed.

01:54 [Whoosh]

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