17 Jan 2024 | 06:31 PM UTC
Romania: Farmers and truckers protest at country's border crossings with Ukraine and Moldova as of mid-January /update 1
Romanian farmers, truckers protest at border crossings with Ukraine and Moldova as of mid-January; cross-border traffic disruptions likely.
Romanian farmers and truckers have staged protests at the Porubne-Siret and Krasna-Vicovu de Sus crossing points on the Romanian-Ukrainian border and at the Costesti-Stanca crossing point on the Romanian-Moldovan border as of mid-January. The purpose of the demonstrations is to denounce increased costs of business and demand accelerated subsidy payments, a freeze on loan payments, and separate queues for EU trucks and those from outside the EU at border crossings and the Port of Constanta on the Black Sea. Related truckers' protests have also been reported in the environs of Bucharest and on a highway leading to the Port of Constanta. The demonstrations have notably continued in recent days despite farmers reaching a deal with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development that addresses several of their demands; truckers, meanwhile, remained in talks with government officials as of Jan. 17.
Transport disruptions, including increased border crossing times for freight vehicles, are likely in areas that are subject to protest activity. Authorities will likely deploy a heightened security presence to the sites of any related demonstrations. Temporary shortages of goods cannot be ruled out.
Plan accordingly for delays to freight shipments scheduled to travel across the Romanian-Ukrainian border or Romanian-Moldovan border for the duration of the protest actions. Confirm the status of border crossings before routing shipments through them. Allow additional travel time in border areas that are subject to protest activity and avoid all demonstrations as a precaution. Heed instructions from security services. Leave the area at the first sign of a confrontation. Do not attempt to pass through any roadblocks.
Since late November 2023, Polish, Hungarian, Romanian, and Slovak truckers and farmers have been intermittently protesting at points along their countries' respective borders with Ukraine, demanding that EU authorities revoke measures that allow Ukrainian truck drivers to access the EU without permits. In general, protesting truckers and farmers assert that Ukrainian truckers and agricultural products undercut them and amount to unfair competition. The demonstrations have also denounced increased costs of business, including from elevated diesel prices, insurance rates, and EU environmental protection regulations.
