Polish carriers have unblocked the Dorohusk-Yahodyn checkpoint after over a month.
The carriers' protest in front of the checkpoint ended at around 14:00 today, the State Border Service of Ukraine has said.
"Registration and passage of trucks across the border in both directions is carried out as usual," the statement said.
Fifteen vehicles have travelled towards Ukraine and are at the checkpoint. Also, 25 trucks are being cleared to head towards Poland, Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov added.
Blockade of the Ukrainian border by Polish carriers:
- Polish hauliers demanding the return of mandatory licensing for Ukrainian truck drivers continue to block other border crossings. On 6 December, they went on strike and blocked three checkpoints: Korczowa-Krakovets, Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska and Dorohusk-Yahodyn. Later, the Shehyni-Medica checkpoint was added to the list.
- During the blockade, two Ukrainian drivers died at the border. The strike is also causing great damage to the supply of items necessary for the defence of Ukraine, from drones to other volunteer aid.
- The Polish carriers' dissatisfaction is related to competition after the liberalisation of international transport between Ukraine and the EU. They claimed that the strike could last for several months and affect all checkpoints. If their demands were met, they promised to end the strike. However, the Ministry of Regional Development said that most of the demands were unrealistic, including a return to the system of issuing permits for Ukrainian carriers to work in the EU. Deputy Minister Derkach also said that the agreement works in both directions: not only do Ukrainians travel to the EU without permits, but EU carriers also enter Ukraine without them, so it is impossible to cancel the agreement at the level of Poland alone, BBC Ukraine wrote. Derkach does not rule out that by striking, Polish carriers are trying to influence an extension of the agreement after it expires.
- The so-called transport visa-free regime between Ukraine and the EU was approved last year. The agreement is valid until July 2024. Polish carriers believe that the agreement has led to excessive competition and are demanding that the obligation to obtain operating permits for Ukrainian transport firms be returned. Polish carriers also want to be allowed to avoid the electronic queue in Ukraine or to have a separate queue for empty vehicles.