Polish Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski has not confirmed a meeting with the farmers who plan to protest in Warsaw. He did urge the demonstration to be as orderly as possible and not unduly burden residents of the capital. In a Polish Radio program, he expressed hope that the protest would proceed without creating major disruption. The gathering is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at Defilad Square and will proceed toward the Sejm, without heavy machinery being brought to the capital.
From Defilad Square, protesters will march along Emilii Plater, Aleje Jerozolimskie, Rondo de Gaulle, Nowy Swiat, and Trzech Krzyzy Square, reaching Wiejska Street in front of the Sejm. The route continues past Piękna Street and Aleje Ujazdowskie toward the Prime Minister’s residence. Warsaw City Hall announced planned street closures and traffic diversions on the route.
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The farmers seek government action
The protesters’ key demands include reversing the Green Deal, limiting agricultural imports from Ukraine, and improving farm profitability. Minister Siekierski urged demonstrators to consider residents and minimize inconvenience while making clear that the public concern is acknowledged.
– he stated on Polish Radio 1, stressing that the aim is to keep disruption to a minimum for Warsaw’s residents while the protest is under way.
Asked whether he would meet the protesters on Tuesday, he replied that it was likely.
Siekierski said he has been in contact with many participants in recent days, including discussions with representatives of protest groups in Brussels. He noted that participants were not limited to Poland and included farmers from several European countries as part of a broader international expression of concern.
– he added, describing the action as international in scope.
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Protests across Europe
The unrest among farmers has been visible not only in Poland but across Europe for several days. In Belgium, farmers around the capital halted parts of the European Quarter with hundreds of tractors, and clashes with police were reported in places. Siekierski noted that a meeting with protesting farmers occurred during a Brussels gathering of EU agriculture ministers. He argued that while Ukraine’s agricultural imports have affected profitability in Poland and some neighboring countries, the situation is increasingly felt elsewhere in the bloc, too.
He called for careful rules governing trade with Ukraine, emphasizing a distinction between humanitarian aid and military assistance, and the need to evaluate economic terms in a market-based framework. He also argued that farmers deserve financial support because they bore costs related to the Green Deal and the relaxation of import rules. He acknowledged that some Green Deal requirements were perceived as excessive and costly, contributing to farm closures.
– he stated, adding that climate goals could be pursued in a different manner that remains compatible with market principles.
READ ALSO: Hundreds of tractors occupy central Brussels as part of another EU policy protest
Calls for immediate action
Former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki urged the government to consider an immediate embargo on food imports from Ukraine. He argued that a barrier was necessary and should be put in place without fear of Brussels, calling on the government to move quickly and abandon ideas of easing border controls by force. He warned that making border crossings with Ukraine less secure would escalate tensions and urged action without delay.
– he said in a social media recording. Morawiecki insisted that border measures should be treated as a critical infrastructure issue and cautioned against any backsliding in policy.
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– Morawiecki’s call for an immediate embargo to protect Polish farmers. Should the border be closed to Ukrainian food? Survey results show strong support.
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Source: wPolityce