(Reuters) - Slovak truckers are threatening to block the country's main border crossing with Ukraine from Friday unless steps are taken to limit competition from Ukrainian hauliers, the head of the country's truckers association UNAS said.
The threat comes after action by Polish truckers who have been blocking several crossings with Ukraine for three weeks to demand tougher conditions for Ukrainian peers.
Polish and Slovak truckers complain they offer cheaper prices for their services and also transport goods within the European Union, rather than just between the bloc and Ukraine.
Polish truckers started their protest on Nov. 6, demanding that the European Union reintroduce a permit system for Ukrainian truckers entering the bloc and for EU truckers entering Ukraine, with exemptions for humanitarian aid and military supplies.
He said there would be a Dec. 4 meeting of European transport ministers in Brussels but he did not have high hopes of any breakthrough.
Persons:
UNAS, Stanislav Skala, Jan Lopatka, Alexandra Hudson
Organizations:
Reuters, European Union, Transport Ministry, Commission
Locations:
Ukraine, Ukrainian, Vysne, European, Brussels, Prague