Volodymyr Balin: The European Commission needs to develop an appropriate response to Ukrainian hauliers facing discrimination 

Ukrainian carriers will collect factual records of Polish carriers resorting to violations and discriminatory practices for the European Commission to respond.

Volodymyr Balin, Vice President of the Association of International Road Carriers of Ukraine made this statement, at a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine – Ukrinform. 

“We have actually become hostages of these strikers blocking the border, and they are dictating their own terms to us. I personally and my fellow carriers really hate these things. I think it’s our turn to make demands on Polish truckers, and we are now looking for legal tools to do so. Since border blockade was not an option for Ukraine both now and in pre-war times, it would be unacceptable on our part. But to take certain measures against Polish carriers, especially those who are supposed to come here with Ukrainian drivers with humanitarian cargo, but instead are carrying commercial goods, we have certain mechanisms. Hence, our state, and we will encourage our officials to respond adequately to such actions of Polish companies,” he said.

At the same time, Volodymyr Balin noted that before the strike, no more than 9% of Poland-registered vehicles crossed the border, while during the protest period, this figure rose to more than 20%. “This suggests that the protesting truck drivers are holding up Ukrainian cars creating lines stretching for kilometers, while Polish cars are allowed to cross without traffic blockade. I think this is an unfair question. And we will now try to develop a factual record of such wrongful acts and pass them on to the European Commission through the Ministry of Infrastructure so that they can respond appropriately to these facts of discrimination against Ukrainian carriers,” emphasized Balin.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news