Polish farmers blockaded the Medyka border crossing with Ukraine on Thursday (Jan. 4) resuming a protest intended to secure government subsidies for corn and prevent tax increases. "We want to sign a bilateral agreement," protest leader Roman Kondrów told a press conference.
The farmers, who are demanding a written agreement with the government, had suspended their protest at the crossing in southeastern Poland on Dec. 24 after a meeting with Agriculture Minister Czesław Siekierski.
Protest leader Roman Kondrów said the farmers were happy with talks they had with the minister and the local governor, but that they wanted a formal agreement.
On Wednesday Kondrów, said that although Siekierski had provided a note telling the farmers their demands would be met, the prime minister had not given a signed declaration.
"We want to sign a bilateral agreement," Kondrów told a press conference on Thursday. "If such a thing is created, the protest will be suspended until the demands are implemented."
Minister Siekierski said on Thursday that although there was money in the budget to cover agriculture subsidies and loans, meeting farmers' demands would take time. "A single signature is not enough, there's a procedure," he added.
Polish truck drivers have been blocking several border crossings with Ukraine since Nov. 6. They want the European Union to reinstate a reciprocal system that requires Ukrainian companies to obtain permits to operate in the bloc.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in December that he believed Warsaw was close to being able to end the truckers' protest.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters, PAP