Brussels, 26 September 2022
On the 26th of September, the Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee of the European Parliament met to discuss with Mr Serhii Tereshko, Deputy Head of the Ukranian mission to the EU. Topics discussed included the queues at EU-Ukraine border crossings, which remain long, although shorter than before, as well as Ukraine’s efforts to convert a number of wagons in order to make them compatible with the EU’s rail gauges.
During the meeting, Mr Tereshko welcomed the EU-Ukraine solidarity lanes initiative, which in his view had already brought tangible results, although challenges still remain. He for example mentioned the idea of launching pilot projects so that Ukrainian goods could reach European ports by rail, noting that Ukranian wagons are already reaching Gdánsk, but that this network could be expanded.
The Deputy head of the Ukrainian Mission also mentioned that Ukraine had tabled several proposals to simplify customs controls, including phytosanitary controls, such as establishing control points at other places than the borders in order to relieve the pressure on border crossing points.
MEP Marian-Jan Marinescu (EPP, Romania) noted, still talking about freight transport via the Black Sea, that the EU had already made available significant sums to support border crossings and railways. However, he called on Mr Tereshko to make clear to the Commission what Ukraine still needs when it comes to transport and logistics.
MEP Kountoura (The Left, Greece) underlined the need to make the transport network safer, adding that transport sector workers carrying out activities in Ukraine should have their labour rights protected.