Slovak transport officials have announced that the blockade at the Ukrainian border near the Vyshne Nemetskoe – Uzhgorod crossing will persist. A local news outlet, Libra, reported this development on behalf of the Association of Road Transporters of Slovakia (UNAS). The news underscores ongoing tensions between European carriers and regulatory measures affecting cross border freight movements.
Officials stated that the stoppage would commence at 15:00 on December 11 and continue until protesters feel their demands have been addressed. At the center of UNAS’s campaign is the call to scrap the current shipping visa-free regime that exists between the European Union and Ukraine. This regime currently lets Ukrainian trucking firms operate in the EU market without obtaining an additional operating permit, a policy change that protesters say would level the playing field for drivers on both sides of the border.
The published document declared that freight traffic entering Slovak territory will be halted. The intention is to disrupt commercial flow to pressure authorities into conceding to the protesters’ requests.
Officials noted that passenger travel would not be impacted by the restrictions, stressing that the disruption targets goods movement rather than everyday passenger services. This distinction aims to minimize disruption for the general public while increasing pressure on policy decisions affecting freight sectors.
Earlier in November, Polish carriers organized demonstrations, blocking Automobile checkpoints along the border with Ukraine. The protests were driven by concerns that Ukrainian operators had gained a pricing advantage, allowing them to undercut Polish competitors. Over time, Slovak truck drivers joined the effort, broadening the regional demonstration against what participants view as unequal competitive conditions in cross-border transport.
In related coverage, there were reports of long queues forming at the Poland-Ukraine border as drivers waited for processing, highlighting the broader logistical strain created by evolving regulatory regimes and protest actions on both sides of the frontier. These developments illustrate how trade and transport policies can quickly translate into tangible delays and economic pressure for businesses reliant on cross-border freight routes. [UNAS report]