Protesting farmers are the first serious problem of the current government. But unfortunately, the situation in this regard is not likely to improve in the near future. The gap between farmers’ expectations and the solutions offered is huge.
On Thursday, at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. The topic of the conversation was preparations for the elections to the EU parliament and the future of the EU. The head of the Polish government and the President of the European Parliament also discussed the situation of Polish agriculture in the context of European Union food security.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized during the press conference that everyone should now focus on the issue of food security, in the context of the security of the entire EU. This includes, among others: decisions related to trade liberalization with Ukraine or some aspects of the Green Deal.
– We talked about the specific situation of Polish agriculture. I count on the understanding of the President of the European Parliament. Polish farmers must be sure that the solutions being prepared are to be friendly to them and not aimed at their interests, said the Prime Minister.
According to the head of the Polish government, there are no simple solutions and situations in European politics at present.
In this and the next term of the European Parliament, we must take care of the interests of agricultural producers in Europe and Poland more effectively. Everyone has the right to full respect, respect and understanding for their own interests in Europe, emphasized Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
That is, beautiful, round words and polite pats on the back.
Protesting farmers at Minister Siekierski’s
At the same time, at the Ministry of Agriculture, Minister Czesław Siekierski and his deputies talked to representatives of protesting farmers, agricultural unions and organizations, and agricultural self-government.
– Green Deal thrown into the trash. Close the borders against imports from Ukraine – farmers said many times during the three-hour meeting.
– Introduce a deposit system. Introduce minimum prices for agricultural products.
– We need money for loans.
– We are starting to fear for tomorrow – said Witold Szmulewicz, head of KRIR. – Grain imports from Ukraine should be suspended at least until harvest, so that we can get rid of the surplus from our warehouses. (…) How to do it? This is a task for the government. (…) The government is discussing the CPK and power plants, but it does not see the problems of agriculture. What about grain port capacity? – he asked and announced that it was over On February 22, agricultural chambers will join the public control of border crossings.
– Subsidies are needed.
– Let’s do everything to ensure that Ukraine exports agricultural products to its old markets, then these goods will not reach Poland – appealed Marian Sikora from FBZPR. He added that he counts on success in the talks at the next COPA-COGECA meeting (February 22-23 this year) regarding the conditions for trade liberalization with Ukraine in the reference period.
– We need zero-sum talks with Ukraine, not endless negotiations – said Wiesław Gryn. – What the inspections say about the quality of goods arriving from Ukraine is one thing, but the reality observed by farmers on the ground is completely different – he added.
– Ukraine has already joined the EU (editor’s note), and will, let me put it my way, decide the entire EU market – thundered Jacek Soska, former deputy minister of agriculture.
– Prime Minister Tusk should be here with us today – noted Tomasz Obszański from Solidarity RI. He also said: – Either the Prime Minister will come to us and guarantee us that there will be no Green Deal and there will be peace with Ukraine, or it will be an insult to farms and an insult to Polish farmers.
– My colleagues from the border said: if you don’t bring anything (from today’s talks – editor’s note), we will close the border forever – said Marcin Sobczuk. – What are the specifics? – He was asking.
– The problem is time. We’re running out of time. Farmers will die after the harvest, this is no joke.
– We’ve already wasted two hours of our time here. Farmers’ precious time.
– We’ve been stuck at ground zero for two months.
– We would like to return to the situation before opening the borders in trade with Ukraine. We don’t expect something impossible. We won’t go down the road until we get it.
– There is no trade on the border. There’s smuggling there.
– Activate all possible services to control goods entering Poland. You have instruments, all sorts of services.
Speeches in this tone lasted three hours… What does Minister Siekierski say about this?
– Yes, you’re right. Yes, we understand farmers…
– We cannot promise what is unrealistic.
– The border cannot be closed completely.
– We have international obligations.
– I would like to have the power to solve today’s problems of farmers.
– I would like to be not only the Minister of Agriculture, but also the Minister of Farmers.
– Collect the demands and we will work on them.
– The border must be erected? I would also like to be beautiful and young. I want you to demand the things that are possible.
– It is not only the Green Deal that has an impact on the market situation. This is also the situation in Ukraine, gas prices and grain prices on world markets.
– I consider the problem of profitability in agriculture to be problem number one.
– Trade liberalization weakened the vigilance of border control.
– The power of farmers’ protests is the power of the Minister of Agriculture.
– The Green Deal must be adapted to farmers’ expectations. Because what farmers do serves the Green Deal.
– We do not want there to be any penalties against farmers unless these are special actions.
– We are conducting further talks with Ukraine regarding reference years. We want to control the flow of goods.
– We are considering which subsidies to launch to improve the profitability of agricultural production. We are looking for funds to implement these activities.
– We ask that blockades and protests cause as little disruption to society as possible, because then we gain social acceptance and understanding.
Protesting farmers are the first serious problem of the current government. But unfortunately, the situation in this regard is not likely to improve in the near future. The gap between farmers’ expectations and the solutions offered is huge.
You have Kołodziejczak and don’t hesitate to use it
Michał Kołodziejczak, who during the previous government blocked the borders and protested in front of the ministry, today – on behalf of Donald Tusk – is also “conducting” talks with protesting farmers. How does he do it? It doesn’t seem to be good either. He is even chased away from some agricultural blockades.
At Thursday’s meeting, he expressed a few words of reflection:
– We know what we promised farmers (…) We have to get down to work.
But on the same day, in an interview with journalists, we heard:
– When Minister Wąsik and Minister Kamiński had a problem, President Andrzej Duda was able to solve the problem immediately. Where is the president today who can start his talks on this topic?
Hmm, who else should we put the blame and responsibility on?
