The Czech-German border crossings at Strazny in South Bohemia, Bozi Dar in the Karlovy Vary Region, and Vejprty in the Usti Region near Chomutov have been rendered impassable and closed due to blockades by protesting German farmers, as confirmed by the police to CTK today. The ongoing demonstration has caused a significant disruption, resulting in a kilometer-long queue of trucks on the Czech side.

Stepanka Schwarzova, a spokeswoman for the South Bohemian police, reported that individuals commuting to Germany for work have been compelled to turn their vehicles around, while trucks are lined up in a convoy extending approximately one kilometer at the Strazny crossing.

The protest originated from German farmers who blocked multiple motorway entrance ramps and roads across the country in opposition to the government’s proposed cuts in agricultural subsidies. The Passauer Neue Presse newspaper disclosed a major blockade staged by farmers in the Bavarian municipality of Philippsreut on the Czech-German border.

Alternative routes have been suggested, with entry into Saxony via Kraslice or Vojtanov in the Cheb area in the Karlovy Vary Region and freely passable crossings in the Usti nad Labem Region. However, the situation remains dynamic, and drivers are advised to exercise caution.

Amid the current disruptions, Schwarzova advised drivers not needing to travel to Germany today to consider postponing their plans. The protest’s impact is not limited to border crossings, as farmers in Germany escalate their demonstrations against the government’s agricultural subsidy cuts.

The head of the German Farmers Union (DBV), Joachim Rukwied, had previously warned of unprecedented protests if the government did not reconsider the proposed cuts. In response, the German cabinet, led by Olaf Scholz, offered concessions, including continued tax exemptions for agricultural vehicles and a phased-out elimination of diesel tax advantages for agricultural machinery. However, the DBV deems these concessions inadequate and is pressing for a complete withdrawal of all austerity proposals. The situation at the Czech-German border underscores the intensity of farmers’ discontent and its far-reaching consequences on cross-border travel and trade.

Article by Prague Forum