The European Commission responded to Poland’s request to abolish the “transport visa-free regime” with Ukraine. The EU government is in favor of preserving the terms of the agreement, which was signed in June 2022 with Ukraine and then extended until June 2024.
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These are the results of the “transport” Council of the EU reported by a Radio Liberty correspondent.
The European Commission again accused the Polish authorities of “washing their hands” of the situation on the Ukrainian-Polish border.
Poland will demand that the European Commission abolish the transport visa-free regime for Ukraine. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki made this promise to Polish carriers. According to him, the permit system in force until April 2022 regulated the transport market “equivalently and fairly,” writes Reuters.
Permits were discontinued after February 24, 2022. Polish carriers blocking traffic at the border want the border crossing permit regime to be resumed on January 1.
This ping-pong between Ukraine and the European Commission is unfair. Meanwhile, people are suffering at the border, and our external borders of the European Union are being held hostage. Therefore, the idea of returning permits is unacceptable, since it was for this purpose that we abandoned the permits. Allowing operations under different numbers and different numbers of permits in the EU was unviable, EC representative Adina Velyan noted on December 4.
She also noted that she is determined to defend the agreement between the EU and Ukraine, despite the demands of Polish protesters.
I was determined to defend this agreement and continue to explain its benefits both for the European market and for Ukraine and Moldova. In fact, I hope that the authorities in the member states and on the front line will take their responsibility seriously,” said the relevant European Commissioner.
Last week, Velan said that the EU is considering the possibility of introducing sanctions against Poland due to the blockade of the border with Ukraine.
We have been involved in this protest from the very beginning and have tried to discuss it with all parties involved. There is no good will to find a solution. This is my assessment today, and it is the almost complete lack of participation of the Polish authorities. I say this because the Polish authorities must enforce the law at this border. “I support the right of people to protest throughout the EU, and Ukraine, which is now at war, cannot become hostage to the blockade of our external borders,” Velyan said.
The official called the situation with the blockade “unacceptable” and emphasized that discussions with the participation of all parties and the European Commission continue.
There is a list of technical measures that can be taken, but they must be implemented and agreed upon by the Polish side. We continue the dialogue, but reserve the right to intervene as the European Commission with even the initiation of a violation procedure (judicial measures against an EU country that does not comply with the bloc’s legislation – ed.) against those who do not comply with the rules and do not apply the law, Velyan quotes. Freedom”.
Source: Racurs
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