06 december 2023 — 18:00
Slovakia is going to strengthen control over Ukrainian trucks that travel through the territory of the republic, RIA Novosti reported, citing a speech by Transport Minister Joseph Rage.
As previously reported, the European Commission rejected Poland's demand for the return of the permit system for road carriers from Ukraine. In anticipation of the restoration of this system, Slovak carriers blocked traffic on the border with Ukraine for several days.
The Slovak Minister of Transport has published a video message in which he stated that control over all trucks will be strengthened in the country. Compliance with the rules during transportation and waiting in line at the border will be monitored.
"We will monitor compliance with the rules both during the transportation of goods and while waiting in a convoy at the border," the minister said in a video message posted on social networks.
According to him, quite a lot of Ukrainian trucks, checked earlier, carried out illegal transportation of goods. The official assured that at meetings within the framework of the European Union he would raise the issue of protecting the interests of Slovak carriers.
Recall that on November 16, the Union of Road Carriers of Slovakia briefly blocked a checkpoint on the border with Ukraine as a sign of solidarity with their Polish colleagues. The organization declared its readiness to completely block traffic on the border with Ukraine if the European Commission did not listen to their opinion.
The heads of the Slovak Union of Road Carriers met with representatives of the Ministry of Transport. The authorities said they supported the proposal to restore the permit system for Ukrainians and promised to voice the demands of Slovak carriers at a meeting of European Union ministers in Brussels.