The wave of farmer protests, sweeping through countries like Poland and France - where the port of Calais has been blocked - has led to the obstruction of key state highways and border crossings, resulting in long queues of commercial vehicles. This escalating situation prompted Raluca Marian, IRU EU Advocacy Director, to write a letter to the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, appealing for the Commission's intervention to ensure the free movement of goods.
The letter highlights not only the slowdown in vehicle traffic but also the risks posed to driver safety and cargo security. The organization has received reports of truck drivers stranded for extended periods without access to sanitary facilities, compounded by a lack of safe rest areas. From an operational standpoint, these protests are delaying goods deliveries and increasing transportation costs.
