If the Polish state wants to improve the situation of Polish airlines, the issue must be brought to the state level, that is, the President and the Prime Minister must raise this issue in talks with Kiev, Brussels and partners in the EU. Currently, neither the President nor the Prime Minister raise this issue in the talks – Krzysztof Bosak (Confederacy) wrote on Platform X on Sunday.
Since November 6, Polish transporters have been protesting at the border crossings with Ukraine in Dorohusk and Hrebenne (Lubelskie Voivodeship) and in Korczowa (Podkarpackie Voivodeship), allowing several cars to pass per hour. The protesters’ demands include: the introduction of commercial permits for Ukrainian companies to transport goods, with the exception of humanitarian aid and supplies for the Ukrainian army; suspension of permits for companies created after the outbreak of war in Ukraine and their inspection. There is also a proposal to eliminate the so-called electronic queue on the Ukrainian side.
If the Polish state wants to improve the situation of Polish airlines, the issue must be brought to the state level, that is, the President and the Prime Minister must raise this issue in talks with Kiev, Brussels and partners in the EU. Currently, neither the President nor the Prime Minister raises this issue in their conversations
– said the Co-Chairman of the Confederation, Deputy Chairman of the Sejm, Krzysztof Bosak.
As he wrote: “The President believes this is beyond his powers, and the Prime Minister was confident that the Minister of Infrastructure understands the issue.”
The ministry held talks with the demonstrators, but nothing came of it, because without progress at the international level there could be no progress. And at the international level, no one takes Poland’s demands seriously unless the president and prime minister express them. The vicious circle of powerlessness and inertia is closed. So it is time for changes and the involvement of government authorities!
– he emphasized.
He pointed out that “the President and the Prime Minister must know the demands of the Polish side, they must understand the arguments behind them, they must know the background, reasons and history of the growth of the problem, and they must have a common strategy for achieve success.”
The entire opposition must be immediately involved in the talks through consultation. Confederation – because it participates in the protests. The centre-left – because it will soon take over power and responsibility for the situation
– Bosak noted.
He also recalled the demands of demonstrators who demanded that “the border be unblocked from the Ukrainian side for the return of empty EU (that is, mainly Polish) trucks.”
Implementation method: exclusion of empty EU trucks from the e-queue (where they stand pointlessly and don’t make money for even a dozen days) and return to what was before, i.e. separate crossings for returning to empty and an empty live queue at these intersections. This decision must be made in Kiev and can be negotiated between Warsaw and Kiev. Not currently
– He wrote.
Another postulate concerns the stabilization of the transport market in Poland (and Slovakia and Hungary) by abandoning temporary regulations and returning to what was before: a system of limited transport permits for both parties.
Method of implementation: putting forward a demand to change EU regulations at the EU Council on Transport on December 4. In this issue it is necessary to build a coalition of EU countries. Natural allies are Slovakia and Hungary. This could also be in the interest of everyone else, as Ukrainian carriers are currently carrying out illegal cabotage on the EU market without being charged the costs of the mobility package (and many others). The current state of affairs in the field of coalition formation: unfortunately probably zero. The day before yesterday the Prime Minister understood what was happening, and politicians from the PiS media deny the validity of the protest
– we read in Bosak’s contribution.
Ukrainian disinformation
According to the Deputy Chairman of the Sejm, “the last thing that needs to be supplemented in the strategy of the Polish state regarding the competition for the survival of our transport sector is the fight against Ukrainian disinformation.”
In recent days, media materials and political statements from the Ukrainian side have appeared that contain falsehoods and manipulation. Protesting entrepreneurs do not have the opportunity to protest and wage an international information war at the same time
– he emphasized.
He believed that “public media and state institutions should immediately engage in defending the truth and reason of the state.”
Emphasize that: the protest is legal, peaceful and safe, and that the death of one driver, reported in the media, has nothing to do with the protest; humanitarian, military, perishable goods and passenger transport are allowed through demonstrators, other claims (for example, the mayor of Lviv) are lies; the protest is in no way directed against the Ukrainian war effort, is in no way inspired by Russia, comes from independent and dispersed Polish circles of transport entrepreneurs and is currently supported by probably all options (except PiS?); meeting the demands is possible and depends only on the flexibility and goodwill of Kiev and Brussels (Brussels will be flexible if Kiev is); Compliance with the requirements does not mean new, unfavorable rules, but only a return to the previously existing rules, in which both Polish and Ukrainian business developed and trade flourished (return to empty without queues, transport permit system)
– assured Bosak.
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mly/PAP
Source: wPolityce
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.