Lithuanian government responds to Poles’ intention to block the border because of Ukrainian grain

The blockade of the road on the Lithuanian-Polish border by farmers may violate the European Union’s principle of free movement of goods and people.

This was stated by the Minister of Economy and Innovation of Lithuania, Aushrine Armonaitė, LRT reports.

On March 1, all vehicles that are likely to transport Ukrainian grain or other agricultural products across the Polish-Lithuanian border will be stopped and physically inspected.

“As far as I understand, the flow of people will not be stopped, but we are still members of a free European Union, where the movement of goods and people should be free. Any obstruction to this movement could potentially violate freedom of movement,” the minister said.

She noted that trucks at the border would be sent to additional parking lots for inspection, which could lead to queues.

Earlier, the chairman of the Lithuanian Grain Producers Association, Ausris Macijauskas, told LRT RADIO that Lithuanian farmers, for their part, would not contribute to the Polish protest. According to Macijauskas, the biggest problem for Lithuanian farmers is Russian grain.

Tags: protests, Lithuania, grain, Poland