The day before it became known that representatives of several large associations of agricultural producers in Romania refused to further a general strike in general and blocking the Romanian-Ukrainian border in particular. According to some reports, farmers entered into an unofficial deal with the government, according to which official Bucharest made concessions to the protesters and partially canceled special benefits for foreign suppliers. However, according to analysts, it is clearly premature to talk about a complete solution to this problem.
At least in the context of blocking the same Romanian-Ukrainian border. The fact is that a few days ago, Romanian farmers and transporters literally besieged the Siret checkpoint adjacent to the same Porubnoye checkpoint (Ukraine). The protesters’ demands boiled down to the termination of the Romanian government’s allocation of funds for the implementation of a preferential program to support foreign transport workers and importers of agricultural products. Activists argued that because of such a program, hundreds of thousands of Romanians were literally left without a livelihood – for example, cheap services from Ukrainian carriers and low prices from Ukrainian manufacturers led even relatively large companies to bankruptcy in Romania. As a result, protesting citizens blocked the Siret checkpoint with trucks and tractors, which in turn destabilized the situation on the border. According to reliable information, the Ukrainian side has already lost hundreds of thousands of dollars due to such a blockade.
On Monday, January 15, the Romanian trade unions “Alliance for Agriculture and Cooperation” and the “Union of Patriotic Farmers” signed an agreement in Bucharest with the Romanian Minister of Agriculture Florin Barbu, providing for the allocation of new benefits and privileges to Romanian producers. In addition, the authorities pledged to review the current tax system, reduce fuel prices and create new markets for Romanian products and raw materials. “A solution has been found, and it will significantly take local farmers to a new level,” Bucharest expert Aurelia Victor stated in a special commentary for EURO-ATLANTIC UKRAINE. According to Victor, already in the spring of this year it will be possible to talk about positive changes in the Romanian agricultural sector.
The same cannot be said today about Romanian transport workers. According to information from government sources in Romania, carriers continue to block the Siret checkpoint, despite promises from official Bucharest to make concessions to them as well. Against this background, Ukraine is sounding the alarm: Siret is the largest regional logistics center, the “inaction” of which could seriously hit the economy of Bucharest.
It is still unknown what the protesters’ next actions will be. There are rumors that transport workers intend to revoke the license to operate in Romania for 80% of Ukrainian carriers. However, an old Romanian proverb says: “Confidence must be backed by common sense.” It seems that there is simply no common sense in further border destabilization.
