The European Commission has harshly denounced the blockade at the Ukrainian border instigated by Polish truckers and farmers, threatening legal action against the government in Warsaw.
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00:00 Brussels is accusing Poland of not doing enough to put an end to a round-the-clock blockade
00:06 by truckers and farmers on the border with Ukraine.
00:09 For days, thousands of lorries have been stranded in queues as truckers claim they are losing
00:14 out to Ukrainian companies transporting goods inside the European Union.
00:20 There is not good faith in finding a solution.
00:23 This is my evaluation today.
00:25 And it's a nearly complete lack of involvement of Polish authorities.
00:30 And I'm saying that because the Polish authorities are the ones who are supposed to enforce the
00:35 law at that border.
00:38 And while I support the right of people to protest, the entire EU, not to mention Ukraine,
00:44 a country currently at war, cannot be taken hostage by blocking our external borders.
00:51 It's as simple as that.
00:54 Polish truckers started the protest earlier this month to call on Brussels to force Ukrainian
00:59 counterparts to obtain a permit to enter the block, except for those carrying humanitarian
01:03 aid or military supplies.
01:06 This would be a return to a previous system that was paused after Russia launched its
01:09 full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year.
01:13 They argue that they are losing out to Ukrainian companies that are offering cheaper rates
01:17 to transport goods.
01:18 Meanwhile, Ukrainian drivers have been waiting in their trucks to cross the border as temperatures
01:22 are now freezing, and many are worried about the situation back home.
01:27 We need to work together.
01:30 And as soon as possible, because in Ukraine there is war.
01:34 People die every day.
01:36 Business is also important, but there are normal people dying and cities and villages
01:41 are disappearing.
01:43 The European Commission says it is talking to all parties involved to find a solution,
01:47 but also stressed that it could intervene to ensure rules are respected and laws are
01:52 followed.
01:54 [Whoosh]