Poles Again Bar Ukrainian Trucks From Crossing Border Despite EU Liberalization

With no explanation, on July 1, Ukrainian trucks were suspended from crossing the Polish border without ECMT Certificates (European Conference of Ministers of Transport) – something the European Union canceled with the road transport Agreement, signed with Ukraine on June 20. 

Ukraine’s State Customs Service reported that Polish checkpoints were suspended for entry and exit for Ukrainian freight vehicles without the special permits. 

The suspension started at midnight. It surprised the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure, since the Polish decision disobeys the road transport agreement between Ukraine and the EU – the latter including Poland. 

“No permits for two-way transportation are required. The agreement on the liberalization of freight transportation between Ukraine and the EU entered into force on the day of signing,” acting Minister of Infrastructure Serhii Derkach stated in a Facebook post after the news was posted. 

The EU and Ukraine updated and extended the Road Transport Agreement to June 30, next year. Inside Ukraine, this is usually referred to as the “transport visa-free regime.” 

The agreement cancels the need for Ukrainian truck drivers to obtain permits for bilateral and transit transportation to EU countries. Ukraine’s drivers are also no longer required to have an international driver's license. 

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This solved a key problem for both EU and Ukraine economies: the lack of permits for international transportation to individual EU countries, particularly the lack of Polish, Romanian, Austrian, and Italian permits. 

The Ministry of Infrastructure of Poland knows that Ukrainian trucks do not need ECMT Certificates, Derkach said. 

“The Polish side, like all other EU member states, was informed about the renewal of the Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union through official channels,” he wrote. 

Ukraine’s Minister of Infrastructure sent a request to the Polish side for an explanation and was assured that “they are trying to solve the problem with the customs service.” 

Ukraine also informed the European Commission about the suspension.

“The EU Commission has already intervened in the situation from its side and is also trying to influence the solution of the problem,” Derkach wrote.