Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration, Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development, held a conversation with Dariusz Klimczak, Minister of Infrastructure of Poland, on unblocking the border. The key topic of the talks was the signing of an agreement between the Ministry of Infrastructure of Poland and Polish protesters to open the border, namely three checkpoints: Dorohusk – Yahodyn, Hrebenne – Rawa Ruska and Korczowa – Krakivets.
“I am grateful to the Minister of Infrastructure of Poland and his team for their efforts to solve the problem. I am grateful to my team, which has been working for more than two months to find solutions with both Polish colleagues and the European Commission. I am grateful to our drivers and carriers who understand the complicated situation and why we are advocating for the introduction of transport visa-free travel. I am convinced that together we will prove that the Ukrainian-Polish border is truly a border of unity and support. At the same time, in late December 2023, we agreed with our Polish colleagues on a list of measures to unblock the border. For our part, we have fulfilled virtually everything we had promised,” said Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration, Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.
Among the agreements reached by the Ministry of Poland with the protesters, their Polish counterparts agreed to provide support. In particular, the search for compensation for carriers who lost eastern markets as a result of russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It also calls for increased inspections to prevent freight cabotage and the creation of a system to control the transport services of Ukrainian companies.
The agreements with the protesters include, among other things, measures previously agreed upon at the level of the ministries of both countries, namely:
– Creating a separate pass in the online queue for empty trucks at Yahodyn-Dorohusk. Technically, this option is available as soon as stable traffic is restored at the checkpoint and the effectiveness of this solution will be assessed;
– Opening the Uhryniv-Dolhobyczow checkpoint for empty trucks. This has also been completed;
– Launch of a pilot project at the Nyzhankovychi – Malchovice checkpoint without registration in the electronic border queue. The pilot will last for one month. After that, its effectiveness will be assessed. For its part, the Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development was to implement this measure only after the border was unblocked. Today, registration is suspended. Ukrtransbezpeka inspectors are also being sent there to ensure order on the road.
The ministries also agreed to launch a joint working group to analyse the situation on the bilateral transport market and ensure effective customs and border control, with the first meeting held on January 8. The Working Group work will result in a joint action plan at the ministerial level to balance the bilateral transport market and reduce queues at the borders. (Government portal/Business World Magazine)