Polish Farmers in Ongoing Fight for Their Existence

 

NSZZ RI Solidarity’s Request for a Shield for Agriculture in Connection with the War in Ukraine

On March 13 this year, NSZZ RI “Solidarity” Chairman Tomasz Obszanski sent letters to Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Czeslaw Siekierski regarding a shield for agriculture in connection with the war in Ukraine.

“The Independent Self-Governing Trade Union of Individual Farmers “Solidarity” maintains its demands for a halt to the introduction of the so-called “Green Deal,” which we believe will result, among other things, in the liquidation of family farming, industry and huge costs for households in Poland and the entire European Union.

We continue to demand an immediate halt to the uncontrolled import of agricultural crops and foodstuffs mainly from Ukraine and Russia, into the European Union especially Poland, and the restoration of the protection of the EU market under the rules in place before Russia’s assault on Ukraine.

Duty-free imports destroy Polish agriculture, especially commodity family farms. It does not support Ukraine’s defense potential, but only brings in crores of profits from unfair competition to multinational corporations. It also effectively destroys the friendship between the Polish and Ukrainian peoples born after the outbreak of war.

The current situation of agriculture in our country, which is mainly the result of the misguided policies of the European Union incompatible with the previous principles of the Common Agricultural Policy, requires decisive protective measures, similar to those taken to rescue business entities from the effects of Covid-19.

We demand the immediate introduction of a “war shield in and around agriculture,” sustaining the economic viability of farms affected by the irresponsible policies of the European Union and the Polish state after the outbreak of war.  (more...)

Polish Farmers in Ongoing Fight for Their Existence