Slovakia announced that 2 thirds of the trucks inspected from Ukraine were carrying illegal goods

Minister of Transport of Slovakia, Jozef Ráž, announced that during Two thirds of Ukrainian carriers were found to have carried out the checks they were not authorised to carry illegally.

This information was provided by the portal Rzeczpospolita on Thursday, citing the Minister of Transport himself, Jozef Ráž.

The Minister of Transport announced that the Slovak Government plans to importantly increase the number of controls carried out on truck drivers in consequence to protests concerning the withdrawal of permits for Ukrainian carriers. He pointed out that stepping up controls would include monitoring compliance both during transport of goods and while waiting in line at the border.

"Our road hauliers were all heard during the talks in Brussels. We joined the Polish reservations, we were supported by Hungary, Lithuania and Latvia, but Western European countries do not see the position quo as a problem. That is why we have met with opposition to our request to reconstruct permits. However, if individual calls the result of these negotiations a failure, we mostly disagree" – he added.

"We will actively search solutions that will defend the interests of our carriers and at the same time be the position of our European partners. We will besides regularly rise this issue in talks with the European Commission or national representatives" – he added.

Slovakia's Transporters Union (UNAS) threatens to completely block the only border way with Ukraine for trucks, Uzhhorod-Vyšné Nemecké, if the problem with the cancelled authorisation strategy for Ukrainian truck drivers is not solved. The board of UNAS, representing Slovak carriers, like their Polish counterparts, demands the restoration of the strategy of transport permits for Ukrainians. Despite the difficulties associated with this issue, UNAS considers it unacceptable to extend the current situation. The organization emphasizes its readiness to strike and threatens to completely close the border crossing of Uzhhorod-Vyšné Nemecké in both directions unless another solution is found.

Meanwhile, Slovak carriers expressed their gratitude to their transport minister for raising the issue of the abolition of the authorisation strategy for Ukrainian carriers at the gathering in Brussels and its impact on road transport in Slovakia. The Minister has a scheduled gathering with UNAS representatives on Thursday.

It is worth recalling that on 1 December Slovak carriers associated with UNAS joined the protest against the abolition of the licensing strategy for Ukrainian transport, blocking the only border crossing with Ukraine for trucks – Uzhhorod-Vyšné Nemecké. As part of the protest, they allowed transports with humanitarian aid, military equipment, fuels, animals and foodstuffs to pass, although the blockade was not complete, and UNAS allowed 4 trucks to be cleared per hour. The protest is scheduled to proceed until December 30.

UNAS' decision to join the protest is due to concerns about the abuse of EU exemptions by Ukrainian transport companies. Transporters are convinced that the current authorisation strategy for Ukrainian carriers introduces unfair competition on the transport market.

The information on 5 December reported that the truck traffic at the Slovak-Ukrainian border was resumed.