'Economic pressure': Ukrainian truckers queue for days to enter Poland
Visit our website:
http://www.france24.com
Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
Follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/France24_en
Transcript
00:00 Ukrainian truck drivers at gridlock on the Polish border.
00:04 Traditionally close allies, competition in the transport sector has caused tensions between
00:08 the two countries, leading Polish truckers to block crossings for a fourth consecutive
00:13 day.
00:14 One driver en route to Estonia labelled Poland a transit country and called for the roads
00:19 to be reopened.
00:20 "Let people go who are not going to Poland, who are going further.
00:26 We're going further.
00:28 We don't need Poland."
00:30 Others forwarded the blame towards politicians.
00:34 "It's not the drivers and businessmen who are doing anything wrong.
00:38 It's the political ambitions of the Poles, that's all."
00:43 The EU waived permits for Ukrainian transport companies entering the bloc after Russia's
00:48 invasion last year.
00:50 But the Polish protesters want those permits reinstated, claiming the competition is unfair.
00:56 "Those companies are much cheaper because they don't have permits and they pay their
01:02 employees much less than we pay our employees."
01:06 Meanwhile Ukrainian truckers left at a standstill.
01:09 "You see, there is a ditch and a field, no toilets, nothing.
01:14 What kind of conditions can you expect?"
01:17 Kyiv says around 20,000 trucks are blocked on both sides of the border, with estimated
01:22 wait times ranging up to six days.