Ukrainian businesses urge Polish carriers to solve problems at border jointly

MOSCOW. Nov 9 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian business community understands the right of Polish carriers to express their own points of view, but calls for a joint solution to the problem, the European Business Association (EBA) said.

The crisis and its implications have resulted in road freight transportation via the western motor border checkpoints (in particular, with Poland) becoming almost the only way for international shipments of goods, Ukrainian media reported with reference to the EBA's appeal.

In this situation, Polish carriers went on strike at the Polish-Ukrainian border checkpoints on November 6.

The strike by Polish carriers at the border will only result in disrupting critical supply chains not only in the country, but also at the international level, the EBA said.

The result of this will be failure to meet delivery deadlines, breach of contractual obligations with partners, spoiling of products with limited shelf life and, consequently, direct financial and reputational losses, experts said.

The association cited an example of one exporting company, which for a week of cargo delays failed to load more than ten orders from European suppliers on time for a total amount of 500,000 euros.

The Ukrainian business community, which includes the European Business Association, the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Association of International Automobile Carriers, the Ukrainian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs, urges Polish carriers to comply with the agreement between Ukraine and Poland on good-neighborliness, friendly relations and cooperation of December 30, 1992 and to resolve disputes through an open and constructive dialogue.

The EBA expressed confidence that a solution could be found through joint efforts, which will take into account the interests of carriers and will ensure stability and well-being of both parties.

In order to shorten the queues at the borders and cut the duration of inspections, the EBA proposed obliging the customs and border authorities of both countries to fulfill the memorandum on the throughput capacity of the Ukrainian-Polish border checkpoints.

Additionally, the EBA said that new joint checkpoints on the Ukrainian-Polish border should be built.

The customs procedures at the Polish-Ukrainian checkpoints should be harmonized and recommendations should be made on how to change the customs legislation and the practice of the customs authorities of both countries, the EBA said.

The signing of an agreement on the joint border between Ukraine and Poland could also help solve the problem, the business community said.