Ukrainian Business Calls on Polish Transporters for Dialogue
Polish farmers are afraid of cheap Ukrainian wheat, “we’re afraid of Ukrainian truckers. We’re being swamped by their trucks.” Jacek Sokol is the owner of a road transport company and one of the leading protesters at the Ukrainian border. He summed up the mood of the country’s truckers with these words to the Polish media. Since Monday, November 6, several industry organizations have been blocking the Dorohusk, Hrebenne and Korczowa border crossings in south-eastern Poland. Almost all road traffic has been paralyzed. One truck per hour is allowed through, with the exception of humanitarian convoys and aid to the Ukrainian army. Their strike action could last several weeks.
November 6, several industry organizations have been blocking the Dorohusk, Hrebenne and Korczowa border crossings in south-eastern Poland. Almost all road traffic has been paralyzed. One truck per hour is allowed through, with the exception of humanitarian convoys and aid to the Ukrainian army. Their strike action could last several weeks.
The business community of Ukraine acknowledges the right of Polish transporters to express their own positions, but calls for a joint resolution of the issue.
This was stated in a message from the European Business Association.
“The full-scale war in Ukraine has significantly affected the supply chains of goods. The closure of Ukrainian airspace, the blockade of parts of maritime and river ports, substantial damage to the railway network and infrastructure of the country have led to road freight transport through western border crossings (in particular, with Poland) becoming practically the only way for international transportation of goods,” noted the association.
“Undoubtedly, the Ukrainian business community understands the right of Polish workers to collective discussion and expression of their own positions. However, given the complex geopolitical circumstances and the needs of our countries for cooperation, the Ukrainian business community believes that resolving the conflict through strikes may lead to negative consequences for both sides, as well as for the EU and the world in general.
Because the strikes by Polish transporters at the border will only lead to disruptions in vital supply chains, which are already being tested by the war not only within the country but also at the international level,” stated the European Business Association.
As a result, experts believe there will be delays in product delivery, breaches of contractual obligations with partners, spoilage of products with limited shelf life, and as a consequence, direct financial and reputational losses.
The association provided an example of an exporting company that, due to a one-week cargo delay, was unable to timely load more than a dozen orders from European suppliers, totaling €500 thousand.
“Therefore, the Ukrainian business community, united by the European Business Association, the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Association of International Road Carriers, the Ukrainian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs, calls on the parties, including representatives of Polish transporters and the authorities of Ukraine and Poland, to adhere to the Agreement between Ukraine and the Republic of Poland on Good Neighborliness, Friendly Relations, and Cooperation of December 30, 1992, and to resolve all disputed issues through open and constructive dialogue,” emphasized the European Business Association.
They added that by joint efforts, a solution can be found that takes into account the interests of transporters and ensures stability and prosperity for both sides.
In order to stimulate the reduction of queues at borders and the duration of inspections (and as a result, reduce business costs for downtime and avoid penalties for non-timely execution of international contracts), the European Business Association proposes to focus on several aspects:
Ensure that the customs and border authorities of both states implement memoranda regarding the capacity of Ukrainian-Polish border crossings; Focus on the development of existing and the construction of new joint border crossing points on the Ukrainian-Polish border, using available tools of intergovernmental cooperation and mechanisms of multilateral diplomacy; Facilitate the convergence of customs procedures at Polish-Ukrainian control points and develop appropriate recommendations for changes in customs legislation and practices of customs authorities of both countries; Sign an Agreement on a Joint Border between Ukraine and the Republic of Poland.