Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has pledged to take national measures to protect Polish farmers amid rising concerns over their market and production challenges. This announcement comes in response to the protests by hundreds of farmers at checkpoints, using tractors and hay bales to block roads, which have been ongoing for over a week across Poland, especially at Polish-Ukrainian border checkpoints.
The situation has been further complicated by the European Commission’s decision not to extend restrictions on the import of four types of Ukrainian agricultural products into some EU border countries, leading Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to extend the ban unilaterally. In response, Ukraine has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization, and the three countries announced they would boycott meetings of the Ukrainian Grain Coordination Platform.
Poland has temporarily halted imports of Ukrainian grain and other food products to support its farmers, who have been protesting against a glut of Ukrainian grain that they claim is hurting their livelihoods. The ban, announced by the leader of Poland’s governing party, Jarosław Kaczyński, includes a wide range of food items and is set to last until June 30.
This measure aims to address the crisis Polish farmers are facing due to the influx of agricultural products from Ukraine, which has led to market disruptions and financial losses for local producers.
Farmers across Europe, including France, have been protesting due to various grievances such as price pressures, taxes, and stringent environmental regulations. These protests reflect broader concerns among European farmers about the sustainability of their livelihoods under current EU policies and market conditions. French farmers, for instance, have expressed dissatisfaction with low payments and the burden of environmental protection regulations. They are also concerned about competition from cheaper imports, particularly from Ukraine, and the potential impact of trade deals like the one between the EU and Mercosur on their competitiveness.
The protests have seen farmers blocking major highways, dumping agricultural products to disrupt government offices, and even attempting to block access to airports and other critical infrastructure. The French government, in response, has promised financial support and other concessions to the farmers, including halting certain food imports from Ukraine and ending negotiations with Mercosur. Despite these measures, the protests show no signs of abating, indicating deep-seated issues within the agricultural sector that are not easily resolved.
