On January 24, a nationwide protest by farmers begins in Poland, who will demand protection of their business from imports from third countries, in particular from Ukraine.
What is known about the large protests of Polish farmers
Farmers plan to take to the roads of towns and villages with their tractors and other machinery in more than 150 places throughout Poland.
Most of the protests will start at noon local time, but in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, the protest has already begun — a convoy of tractors is slowing down the movement of drivers on the roads.
Farmers put forward two main demands. They demand to stop the "uncontrolled import" of agricultural products from Ukraine and other countries outside the EU, which do not comply with European standards.
This allegedly threatens Polish farmers. The strike should also draw attention to the need to prepare a strategy for Ukraine's accession to the European Union in agriculture.
Farmers also want a review of the Unified Agrarian Policy and changes and greater "flexibility" to the National Strategic Plan for the entire budget period until 2027.
What preceded it
From November 6, 2023, Polish truckers started strikes at the border with Ukraine. Their primary demand is cancelling the so-called transport visa-free for Ukrainian international carriers.
During his visit to Kyiv, the new prime minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, assured that Ukraine and Poland would find a profitable solution for the agricultural producers of both countries.
At the same time, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said that Kyiv promised to make maximum efforts not to harm and support the interests of Polish farmers and truckers. He expressed the expectation that Poland would also remove restrictions for Ukrainian farmers and producers.
Before that, it was reported that Poland would oppose the European Commission's proposal to extend Ukraine's preferential trade regime for another year until June 2025.
