The Union of Road Carriers of Slovakia (UNAS) threatens to block border crossings from the Slovak side for Ukrainian carriers if the European Commission does not return the issuance of commercial transportation permits within the European Union. This is stated in a letter from UNAS to the Ministry of Transport.

The carriers ask the ministry to start interacting with the EC and demand that the licenses be returned to Ukrainian carriers.

"Slovak freight transport is on its knees. As you can see, Polish carriers are blocking their borders because they have the same problem as our carriers," the letter says.

UNAS argues that the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic has long been neglecting freight transportation and completely ignoring the problem.

Due to the increase in freight traffic on the night of Sunday, November 12, the movement of freight transport on the eastern border of Slovakia was restricted, the local publication Teraz reports. Queues of vehicles lined up not only in front of the Vyshnye Niemetske border crossing, but also in the surrounding areas.

Last week, the Association of Road Carriers of the Slovak Republic (ČESMAD) drew attention to the problems associated with the easing of rules and conditions for Ukrainian carriers after the outbreak of war in Ukraine. Its members also called for the abolition of transport visa-free travel for Ukraine.

The Ministry of Transport of Slovakia agreed that the increase in the number of transportations in the EU by Ukrainian carriers "negatively affects the economy of the European Union." They promised that in early December, the Slovak Minister of Transport would propose to Brussels to reconsider the EC's decision, according to which permits are not required until June 30, 2024.