Slovakia will strengthen control of Ukrainian trucks passing through the republic

Slovakia will strengthen control of all trucks, including Ukrainians, passing through its territory," said Transport Minister Josef Ráž.

On Monday, the European Commission rejected Poland's request to reconstruct the authorisation strategy for Ukrainian carriers. Slovak carriers besides blocked traffic at the border with Ukraine for respective days, hoping to reconstruct the system.

"We would like to assure Slovak carriers that we will strengthen control of all trucks, guarantee compliance both during transport of goods and while waiting in a convoy at the border," said Raj in a video message published on Tuesday on social media.

According to him, most of the Ukrainian carriers previously inspected by the Slovak authorities were carrying out their services illegally. The Minister besides promised to address the issue of protecting the interests of Slovak carriers at meetings within the European Union.

The association of Slovak road hauliers suspended a traffic blockade on Tuesday through the Uzhhorod-Vyšné Nemecké border crossing, which began at 15:00 (17:00 Moscow time) on 1 December. The organisation has stated that it is disappointed by the gathering of EU transport ministers in Brussels, but plans to meet with the Slovak Transport Minister as shortly as possible and hopes to hear proposals on the situation and then decide on further action.

The situation of trucks travelling through Slovakia to Ukraine began to deteriorate in mid-November, shortly after Polish carriers began protesting and blocking road checkpoints on the border with Ukraine. Due to protests in Poland, truck drivers tried to enter Ukraine through the Slovak border crossing Vyšné Německe – Užhorod, thus complicating traffic in east Slovakia. The van convoy reached 20 kilometres. Slovak police asked drivers to usage alternate routes and besides tried to redirect truck traffic to Hungary.

The association of Slovak road hauliers briefly blocked the checkpoint at the border with Ukraine on 16 November to support their Polish colleagues. The organisation has stated that it is ready to completely block the movement at the border with Ukraine if its opinion is not taken into account by the European Commission.

Representatives of the Slovak Ministry of Transport met with the management of the Slovak Road Carriers Union to perceive to their demands. The Ministry has stated that it supports the proposal to reconstruct the licensing strategy for Ukrainian carriers and respects the right of organisation to protest, but hopes that blocking the checkpoint at the border with Ukraine will not affect the lives of people in the east of the country. The authorities besides promised to present the demands of Slovak carriers at a gathering of European Union ministers in Brussels.

A fewer weeks ago, Polish carriers, to which farmers later joined, blocked road checkpoints on the border with Ukraine. They request the restoration of the previously cancelled licensing strategy for Ukrainian commercial carriers with exceptions to humanitarian aid and transportation for Ukrainian troops, suspension of licenses for companies established in Ukraine after February 2022, their control, separation of queues of empty and loaded vehicles. The queue of trucks on the Polish side reached 50 kilometres and already 2 Ukrainian drivers have died there.