Slovak carriers endanger to completely block an crucial border crossing with Ukraine

Addressing the strategy situation licences for Ukrainian truck drivers, it seems essential to avoid possible transport problems between Slovakia and Ukraine. The threat of a complete blockade of the only border crossing way could affect not only carriers but besides trade and another economical areas.

This underlines the importance of global cooperation and the request to find a compromise on the authorisation of truck drivers. Addressing this problem may require negotiations between the parties active and an approach that takes into account the interests of both countries.

It is crucial that specified issues be resolved peacefully and with respect for the rights of both parties, while taking into account the needs of the transport manufacture and the economy as a whole. Cooperation and dialog are crucial to uncovering a sustainable solution that will safeguard the interests of all parties involved.

At the same time, Slovak carriers expressed their gratitude to the Minister of Transport of Slovakia for raising the issue of the abolition of the authorisation strategy for Ukrainian carriers in Brussels and its possible impact on road transport in Slovakia. The Minister has a scheduled gathering with UNAS representatives on Thursday.

It is worth recalling that on 1 December, Slovak carriers, members of the Union of Slovakia Carriers (UNAS), joined the protest against the abolition of the licensing strategy for Ukrainian carriers, which resulted in the blockade of the only border crossing way with Ukraine for trucks – Uzhhorod-Vyšné Nemecké. As part of the protest, carriers allowed humanitarian transport, military equipment, fuel, live animals and food to pass, limiting the blockade for another transports to 4 trucks per hour. The planned end of the protest is formally scheduled for December 30 of this year.

UNAS' decision to join the protest is due to concerns about the abuse of EU exemptions by Ukrainian transport companies, which, according to carriers, leads to unfair competition in the transport market.

On 5 December, it was reported that the truck traffic at the Slovak-Ukrainian border was resumed. However, the Onet portal reports that Polish drivers experience intimidation on the side of the Ukrainian border, and this situation raises concerns about security.

In the context of protests by Polish carriers, the European Commission is preparing to impose sanctions on Poland. Poland is expected to remove the blockades at the border with Ukraine, and in the absence of action, the EC will effort to punish Poland. During the talks with the protesting Polish carriers, the EC representatives proposed, among another things, compensation for Poles due to losses resulting from the deficiency of a strategy of permits for Ukrainian drivers, financed from Polish funds.