Polish PM Donald Tusk said that the demands of Polish protesters for a complete blockade of the border with Ukraine or a total rejection of the European Green Deal are unacceptable.
Tusk comments on demand of complete border blockade for Ukraine's agricultural products
Donald Tusk emphasised that demands such as "Away with the Green Course" or "Block Ukraine" are "unacceptable" to him.
I want to talk about how to effectively change the provisions of the Green Deal so that Polish farmers do not feel oppressed by these provisions and how to regulate trade with Ukraine to protect Polish producers from unfair competition effectively.
Donald Tusk
Prime Minister of Poland
He noted that he cares "not about symbolic actions" but about "Poland achieving changes in European policy where it is necessary for the Polish farmer to feel protected".
He says, "If someone wants to protest, he has the right to do so, but at the same time, he must not violate the rules."
At the same time, Tusk urged the Polish European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, "not to spoil anything" in the final phase of Poland's negotiations with the European Commission.
I am in constant contact with Brussels, I would very much like no one to destroy this work because we are close to the finish line, Tusk said.
He also informed that he is on his way to Bucharest on Thursday, where the leaders of the European Christian Democrats and the EU leadership are meeting. He said that he would discuss the need for changes to protect the European and Polish markets, as well as Polish manufacturers, from the uncontrolled influx of goods from the outside.
We understand the changes, and we need to return to the principles that existed in trade relations with Ukraine and other third countries before the war. We really want to help Ukraine, but we have to simultaneously protect the European and Polish agricultural market and take care of it regardless of farmers' protests, — said Tusk.
Why are Polish farmers protesting?
On Feb. 9, Polish farmers began blocking roads in Poland and checkpoints on the Polish-Ukrainian border.
Farmers are blocking traffic in six directions — these are the checkpoints "Yagodyn", "Ustylug", "Ugryniv", "Rava-Ruska", "Shegyni" and "Krakivets".
Farmers are protesting due to the alleged influx of Ukrainian goods and against the EU's Green Agreement, which provides for climate neutrality by 2050.
