The war in Ukraine led to the blocking of transport corridors, especially of Ukrainian ports. This mobilized the European Union and the counties neighboring Ukraine, including the Republic of Moldova, to offer support and propose new initiatives for transport corridors, creating the so-called “solidarity lanes” . The issue was discussed in the “International Trade Facilitation Forum – Response to Blockade of Transport Corridors from Ukraine” that was held in Chisinau, IPN reports.
EU Ambassador to Moldova Janis Mazeiks said that Ukraine produced food for 400 million people and 15% of the global sunflower oil. Russia’s war stopped these conveyances for months. The Ukrainian grain was blocked and the situation exposed millions of people to famine and insecurity. In this connection, alternative routes for trucks were created, the shipment capacity was increased, the equipment and instruments of the sides were mobilized in a move to support the export of agricultural products from Ukraine but also from Moldova to the EU. So far, over 12 million tonnes of agricultural products already left Ukraine through the created solidarity lanes.
Maja Bakran, Deputy Director-General of the DG Move (DG Mobility and Transport) of the European Commission, said that Ukraine’s storehouses in spring were full of grain and there was no coordination between the sides involved. It became clear that creating new corridors westwards was the only way out for Ukraine to keep in touch with the rest of the world. These solidarity corridors expand in different directions and in the Romanian port Constanta. Moldova this way became a “bridge” between Ukraine and the EU. The northern route, through Poland to the Baltic Sea, is also used. A number of obstacles were removed but long-term solutions are needed, such as railway connections.
Igor Talmazan, Director of the Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova, said the war in Ukraine caused a series of regional problems, including in Moldova. Together with the blocking of ports, the commercial relations in the region were redirected. At the initial stage, the war was associated with a large inflow of migrants but the war continues and the operational problems also continue. Solutions have been identified for each problem apart.
Vladyslav Suvorov, Deputy Head of the State Customs Service of Ukraine, noted that the war has influenced the lives of citizens from other countries too. Currently, only nine Ukrainians frontier posts clear goods and this is not enough to ensure the export capacities of Ukraine. Through the agency of the solidarity corridors, Ukraine is permanently in touch with the European Commission. Together with counterparts from Poland, a pilot project was lunched to enhance the capacity of the border crossing points. Despite the war, Ukraine continues its path to the EU
The “International Trade Facilitation Forum – Response to Blockade of Transport Corridors from Ukraine” was staged by the EU Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine (EUBAM) together with the Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova.
