Polish farmers will block all border crossings as well as transport hubs between Poland and Ukraine from February 20, RMF FM writes.
“Not only border crossings will be blocked, but also transport hubs, access roads to railway transshipment stations and seaports,” a communiqué from the Solidarity farmers’ union said, as quoted by Poland’s RMF FM.
Earlier, on February 9, Solidarity announced a 30-day general strike by farmers.
Polish agrarians say they are protesting against the uncontrolled influx of goods from Ukraine into Poland due to the opening of borders by the European Union. It is pointed out that “the lack of regulation calls into question the profitability of agricultural production, processing and other agriculture-related industries.”
“Therefore, for February 20, as part of the 30-day general strike of farmers, we announce that all protests will be aimed at a complete blockade of all Polish border crossings with Ukraine and protests on the ground,” the farmers told Solidarity.
blockade of border crossings, Polish farmers, Polish farmers' strike
In January 2024, Naftogaz Group companies paid UAH 5.6 billion in taxes to the state budget of Ukraine.
“8.5% of all tax revenues to the state budget of Ukraine in January 2024 are taxes paid by Naftogaz Group. We are talking about the amount of UAH 5.6 billion,” the group said on its website on Tuesday.
Another UAH 0.5 billion was transferred to local budgets.
“Naftogaz Group remains one of the largest taxpayers in Ukraine and a reliable support for the state budget. In total, over 31 days of January 2024, we have already paid UAH 6.1 billion in taxes to the country’s consolidated budget,” the group’s CEO Oleksiy Chernyshev said as quoted on the website.
As reported, in 2023, Naftogaz Group companies paid UAH 90.2 billion in taxes, UAH 83.4 billion of which went to the state budget and UAH 6.8 billion to local budgets.
Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises increased pig iron production by 41.5% to 555 thousand tons from 384 thousand tons in January this year.
As reported, Ukraine increased pig iron production by 6.1% to 6.003 million tons in 2023.
In 2022, Ukraine reduced pig iron production by 69.8% to 6.391 million tons.
In 2021, the company produced 21.165 million tons of pig iron (103.6% compared to 2020), 21.366 million tons of steel (103.6%), and 19.079 million tons of rolled products (103.5%).
According to Ukrmetallurgprom, Ukrainian metallurgical enterprises increased steel production by 91.6% in January this year, up to 544 thousand tons from 284 thousand tons in January 2023.
As reported, in 2023, Ukraine increased production of total rolled products by 0.4% compared to 2022 to 5.372 million tons, but reduced steel production by 0.6% to 6.228 million tons.
Ukraine reduced steel production by 70.7% in 2022. In 2021, 21.366 million tons of steel were produced (103.6%).
Ukrainian steelmaking companies increased their production of rolled products by 75.9% year-on-year to 453 thousand tons from 257 thousand tons in January this year, according to preliminary data.
In 2022, Ukraine reduced its production of general rolled products by 72% compared to 2021, to 5.350 million tons.
In 2021, 19.079 million tons of rolled products were produced (103.5%).
In 2023, the agricultural holding Continental Farmers Group paid UAH 1.4 billion to the budgets of all levels and allocated UAH 37.7 million for social projects, the holding’s press service said on Tuesday.
“As an honest and responsible business, we constantly report annually on taxes paid and financial support to the communities we cooperate with. I would like to emphasize that Continental Farmers Group is and will remain a reliable long-term partner for both its shareholders and the state, especially in this difficult period,” the press service quoted Georg von Nolken, CEO of the agricultural holding, as saying.
According to the report, support for Ukrainian defenders remains an integral part of Continental’s social responsibility policy. Since February 2022, the agricultural holding has allocated UAH 55.1 million to help the military.
Mriya Agro Holding and CFG, united under the name Continental Farmers Group, have been operating as a single business since November 2018, when Mriya entered into an agreement with international investor Salic UK to sell its assets.
Salic was founded in 2012. Its sole shareholder is the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, which invests in agricultural and livestock production.
