Poland seeks green deal exemption through talks with EU – media

Poland is engaging in informal discussions with Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, seeking an exemption from certain provisions of the “Green Deal,” as reported by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Andrzej Szyna.

Szyna suggested that Poland, being a significant agricultural market neighboring Ukraine, could potentially be granted an exception. He pointed out that this exemption pertained to both environmental regulations and potential disruptions caused by product flows affecting various markets.

“If Poland’s requests are accommodated within the European Union, it could become the collective stance of the Union,” Szyna stated, hinting at potential unilateral actions if negotiations prolong. “As Prime Minister Tusk articulated, if delays persist, we will proceed with changes, potentially imposing border blockades and tariffs.”

Szyna also indicated that discussions with Ukraine on border issues were progressing positively, suggesting that concerns regarding border problems could soon be resolved.

The  State Border Service of Ukraine disclosed that Polish farmers were currently blocking six directions at the Polish-Ukraine border, resulting in a backlog of over 2,000 trucks. This comes in the wake of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s announcement in late February regarding negotiations with Kyiv for the temporary closure of the border and cessation of bilateral trade. However, Ukrainian Trade Representative Taras Kachka refuted these claims, denying any such negotiations.