On 23 February 2024, the Lviv Agrarian Chamber held an extraordinary meeting of its Board. The main issue discussed at the meeting was our coordinated response to the prolonged and unjustified blockade of the borders by Polish farmers. We adopted an appeal to our colleagues, neighbours and partners from the Lublin Chamber of Agriculture (LIR) and the Regional Council of Chambers of Agriculture (KRIR) in the Republic of Poland.
To the President of the Regional Council of Agricultural Chambers of the Republic of Poland (KIR)
Mr Viktor Shmulevich
To the President of the Lublin Chamber of Agriculture (LIR)
Mr Gustav Jendrejko
APPEAL!
Lviv 23 February 2024
Dear Sirs!
The Lviv Agricultural Chamber, as a member of the Assembly of Agricultural Chambers of Ukraine, on behalf of over 300,000 landowners in the Lviv region, respectfully addresses you regarding the prolonged and unjustified blockades of the borders by Polish farmers and protesters, which are causing serious difficulties in trade and economic cooperation between our countries and threatening its integrity.
The history of our countries and our organisations is built on strong and successful relations, and we are convinced that Ukraine and Poland are destined to be strategic partners. However, unfriendly actions, which are utterly unacceptable in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine, may undermine our mutual trust and cooperation, which has been achieved through the persistent efforts of both sides. We believe that it is in our mutual interest to resolve this situation through constructive dialogue and cooperation. Our friendly relations are rich in successfully implemented initiatives and projects, and we are confident that we will be able to find mutually beneficial solutions in this instance as well.
It is worth noting that Ukraine is also a major importer of Polish agricultural products, particularly in the dairy sector, as well as in fruit and vegetables. Given that the actions of the Polish side are causing significant economic losses and difficulties for Ukrainian producers, we have no choice but to take appropriate measures to support the affected producers in Ukraine. Such actions may include, but are not limited to, exercising restraint in importing and purchasing products from our Polish partners.
We ask you to view this situation not as a problem, but as a challenge and a potential opportunity to take measures aimed at supporting producers in both countries and strengthening our mutually beneficial relations. We understand the depth of the causes and the complexity of the circumstances, but we believe that together we will be able to find rational and fair solutions.
In addition to the above, we would like to ask you to take into account other factors, such as the need to preserve current initiatives and programmes, in particular INTERREG NEXT Poland-Ukraine 2021-2027, the successful implementation of which is under threat in the current circumstances. The strategic importance of these projects is extremely high, and we believe that their loss could harm not only our shared interests but also the protection of biodiversity in the cross-border territories of Ukraine and Poland.
Today we find ourselves at the crossroads of geopolitical interests, on the border between two worlds, two civilisations that are in many respects self-sufficient yet potentially in conflict, as centuries of history have shown, and therefore any error or even inaccuracy in setting the relevant priorities could have extremely negative consequences for our nations.
In conclusion, we express our hope for the continuation of successful cooperation aimed at the development of our agricultural sectors. We hope that together we will be able to find constructive solutions, contributing not only to economic growth but also to the strengthening of friendship and cooperation between the Agricultural Chambers of Ukraine and Poland.
The Board of the Lviv Agricultural Chamber