Farmer protests in Poland
A farmers' protest has been going on for several days across Poland. They are blocking roads in more than 100 locations across Poland.
Farmers blocked border crossings with Ukraine in Dorohusk, Hrubieszow, Medyka and Korczowa on Tuesday. In Medyka, it was completely blocked to cars entering and leaving Poland. They are protesting against the EU's Green Deal and changes to the Common Agricultural Policy. At issue, among other things, is the pace of the EU's ambitious climate goals.
The farmers also oppose the influx of goods from Ukraine, which they argue is ruining Polish farms. According to the farmers, agricultural production has become unprofitable.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development indicates that it is taking action in the areas raised by the farmers.
"Farmers are protesting for a just cause, because the preservation of agricultural production determines the country's food security. The ministry's new leadership has been holding and continues to hold talks with the protesting farmers from the very beginning" - Agriculture Minister Czeslaw Siekierski responds to the protesters.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development stresses that the farmers' demands have been reported to the European Commission. According to the announcement, farmers will temporarily block roads throughout the country until March 10.
In turn, Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared that he was open to dialogue with farmers and announced that he would "seek protective solutions" for Polish farmers.
- Both by domestic methods, through the use of domestic measures, and through further negotiations and with Ukraine and with European institutions, so that these negative consequences of the liberalization of trade with Ukraine are less severe, so that they can be offset as much as possible. And here Polish farmers can count on me - Tusk noted.
Government representatives, including Prime Minister Tusk, strongly condemned the dumping of grain from shipments from Ukraine, flag burning and individual pro-Putin slogans that appeared at the protests.
Sources: Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, Rzeczpospolita