As previously announced by trade associations, from 1:00 PM on Sunday, February 25, 2024, Polish farmers have closed the German border at Świecko in both directions, leaving only a corridor for the transit of ambulances and law enforcement. The blockade was supposed to start at 6:00 PM, but following a series of talks between farmer representatives on Friday, which lasted three hours, it was decided to start earlier.
According to local newspapers, several banners with slogans also used at the Dorohusk border appeared on the site: "Do not let Polish agriculture be destroyed," "There are no cakes without farmers," "The farmer feeds, the farmer defends and will eliminate stupidity," "If you think we are here because we have nothing to do, you are wrong," "We are waiting for the Prime Minister," or "We want to eat Polish bread." The farmers' primary demands are to stop the influx of agricultural products from Ukraine and abolish the EU's Green Deal policy.
Due to the closure of the Polish A2 highway, police officers are directing road traffic on alternative routes, but traffic disruptions are feared that could slow or block traffic for the next 25-30 days. Trucks at the Jordanów junction are being directed onto the S3 expressway towards Zielona Góra to cross the border at Gubinek, while for passenger vehicles, the route will be closed at the Świecko intersection.
"We are available and at the service of all motorists and protesters," stated the Słubice Police Headquarters in a Facebook post, "and at the same time, we invite them to follow the instructions provided by the Traffic Police officers directing traffic. We ask for your understanding and shared responsibility for road safety."
Protests are also ongoing on the Ukrainian border, with several assaults on trains and trucks loaded with agricultural products. Developments are expected in the coming days, while Ukrainian carriers continue the blockade at the border with Poland due to ongoing problems crossing the checkpoints. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities have communicated the intention to open a new export route through the Danube River to avoid systematic hitches on the Polish front.
Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov announced at the recent Munich Security Conference that Kyiv "is implementing this new corridor because it considers Romania more predictable and safer than Poland." The new route would go from the Ukrainian port of Izmail to that of Constanța in Romania and to the ports on the Danube in Germany.
The Ukrainian company Danube Shipping has already built the second large-tonnage barge Slg, and according to government data, the value of Ukrainian exports goes well beyond just agricultural products. Last year, metal products were also exported, and the total exports amounted to $35.8 billion, almost 48% less than in 2021. The volume of exports through Poland has now dropped to 300,000 tons per month, whereas in 2022 it was more than four times that.
Marco Martinelli
