Because EU environmental regulations are too strict for them, Polish farmers have blocked a motorway border crossing with Germany. The action on the A12 is expected to last until Monday.
Polish farmers have started blocking an important border crossing into Germany. With their action in Slubice they said they wanted to protest against EU environmental regulations.
The blockade at the border near Frankfurt an der Oder brought the motorway – A12 on the German side and A2 on the Polish side – to a standstill. This connects Berlin with Warsaw and is normally used by many trucks, among other things.
But not a week-long blockade
“The blockade began as planned at 1 p.m., both lanes of the A2 are blocked,” said a Polish police spokeswoman. The farmers originally wanted to block the border crossing for 25 days. After discussions with the public and local businesses, they refrained from doing so. The blockade will “probably be lifted again on Monday,” said protest co-organizer Dariusz Wrobel.
Polish farmers view the EU’s current environmental regulations as unacceptable. The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy provides for better environmental protection, for example to preserve biodiversity and stop species extinction. Farmers of a certain size must therefore adhere to environmental standards in order to receive subsidies from Brussels. For example, they should follow crop rotations, observe buffer strips along bodies of water and grow catch crops to protect the soil.
Fear of competition from other countries
With the blockade, they also want to raise awareness against the import of agricultural products from third countries that do not meet EU requirements – specifically, this is about cheaper grain from Ukraine. Farmers across Europe have been protesting for weeks against EU environmental regulations and for protection from competition from third countries. On Monday, the EU agriculture ministers will discuss the demands in Brussels.
Sabina Matthay, ARD Warsaw, tagesschau, February 25, 2024 4:03 p.m