Polish farmers have announced their readiness to block all checkpoints at the border with Ukraine if by December 10, Donald Tusk's government fails to meet their requirements. The main cause of protests is the dissatisfaction of farmers with the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and South America, as well as a number of internal economic issues.
During the negotiations with the Minister of Agriculture of Poland Czeslav Sechersky at the checkpoint of a physician, farmers declared the following requirements:
- Countering the EU agreement with Mercosur countries . Protesters fear that a trade agreement with South America will increase imported agricultural imports that will create unequal conditions for Polish producers.
- Agricultural tax conservation . Farmers demand to leave the level of this tax for 2024 unchanged, as it was before.
- Protection of Polish farmers from economic risks . Farmers want the government to clearly define their position on protecting the national agricultural market.
The Minister of Agriculture, Czersky, assured that by December 10, the Government will prepare an official response to all the demands of farmers by December 10. However, farmers emphasize that in the event of failure to comply with their requirements, they will have to take radical actions that will include the full border overlap with Ukraine.
Mercosur is an economic union of South America, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia. The EU Free Trade Agreement and this Union provides for a reduction in duties on agricultural products, which can cause increased imports of cheap foodstuffs to European countries. Polish farmers believe that this situation will put them in a disadvantage.
