– When the “supporters” appeared, the farmers’ peaceful protest took on a completely different character – said the Minister of Agriculture, Czesław Siekierski, on Wednesday. In the coming days, talks between Poland and Ukraine on regulating trade in agri-food goods will continue.
- During a press conference in the Sejm, the head of the Ministry of Agriculture referred to the agricultural protests taking place in the country on Wednesday.
- The largest of them took place in Warsaw.
- In front of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, protesters lit flares and used firecrackers. Some flares were also thrown at the police and towards the office building. Then the demonstrators began to move to the Sejm.
- There were clashes with the police in front of the parliament building. Paving stones were thrown towards the services. The police responded with tear gas. Water cannons also appeared on the streets in front of the Sejm, and the routes were blocked by police cordons.
- Siekierski argued that “calm and due seriousness” were always maintained during farmers’ protests.
– Farmers talked about their problems. They presented their demands both to the leadership of the Sejm and to the Prime Minister’s office. As long as there were only farmers, the protest took place in an atmosphere of peace, but when the “supporters” appeared, the protest took on a completely different character, he said.
According to the minister, farmers should not be blamed for what happened in Warsaw. He indicated that he had met groups of farmers who separated from the protest, indicating that they did not want to support it.
We know who is responsible for the politicization of this protest and such politicization is not good for farmers. It does not serve the good of the cause, he noted.
The minister added that the issue of importing goods from Ukraine is to be regulated within the framework of bilateral arrangements between Poland and this country. He assured that talks on this matter were far advanced. “There will be quotas, there will be quotas, there will be strict monitoring and we will regulate the situation at the border. There will be supervision over transit,” Siekierski argued.
The head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced that talks with Ukrainians on this matter are to be held on Thursday. On Monday, the Polish delegation will go to Ukraine, he added.
Siekierski pointed out that the main problem farmers are currently facing is the profitability of their work. He emphasized, however, that the worse situation was caused not only by the negligence of the previous government, but mainly by global conditions and falling prices of agricultural products, e.g. cereals. This – as he said – affects the condition of EU farmers and that is why the European Commission “must support farmers financially.”
According to Siekierski, “it is Polish and European farmers who are forcing changes in the Green Deal with their firm no”, some of which have already taken place. The minister pointed this out, among others: on issues related to the use of plant protection products or fallowing.
Farmers’ protest, also attended by, among others, representatives of “Solidarity”, foresters and hunters began in the morning in front of the office of the Prime Minister. A group of demonstrators was also present in front of the Sejm building.
The Warsaw Police Headquarters reported that several policemen were injured during the clashes near the Sejm; a dozen or so people were also detained.
Protesting farmers oppose the European Green Deal, as well as the import of agri-food products from Ukraine to Community countries, including Poland.
