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Poland should maintain blockade of Ukrainian grain, but with
transit allowed when Polish ports have free transshipment capacity, said Monika
Piątkowska, President of Grain and Feed Chamber of Poland, in an interview with
farmer.pl on April 16.
“Today, it would be better if blockade of grain imports
remained in place, and when it comes to transit, we could implement it to some
extent and thus help Ukraine when we have free processing capacity in Polish
ports,” she said.
Piątkowska noted that in first quarter of 2024, Polish
ports were not 100% utilized.
“We must conclude that our port infrastructure and railroad
infrastructure are inefficient,” she added.
“Now is the time to expand it. I believe that we have
overslept last two years in this context. Romania received funds from European
Union and is expanding its infrastructure, while Poland has not yet done so.”
She is convinced that Poland must show both Ukraine and
international community that it wants to help effectively, but, on the other
hand, firmly defends interests of Polish farmers. These two goals, in her
opinion, need to be combined.
“Sooner we come to an understanding, sooner we develop
mechanisms, less complicated will be atmosphere that can hinder our broader
cooperation not only with Ukraine, but also in European arena,”
summarized Piątkowska.
Earlier it was reported that on Feb. 20, Polish protesters
started to restrict traffic on border with Ukraine. Trucks were blocked at
Medyka - Shehyni, Dolhobychuv - Uhryniv, Zosin - Ustyluh, Korczowa - Krakowiec,
Hrebenne - Rava-Ruska and Dorohusk - Yagodyn checkpoints.
Farmers put forward many demands, including two main ones:
abolition of duty-free trade with Ukraine and complete closure of
Ukrainian-Polish border to trucks.
On the same day, March 7, Ukraine announced that it was
ready to restrict trade with EU, but on its own terms.
Poles changed their decision on agrarian blockade of Ukraine
on April 4.
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