In a demonstration in Brussels on Monday, farmers set ablaze piles of tires, demanding action against the challenges posed by inexpensive supermarket prices and free trade agreements. Simultaneously, EU agricultural ministers convened to address the sector’s crisis. Riot police responded to protesters, who threw bottles and eggs, with water cannons, while approximately 900 tractors caused disruptions in parts of Brussels, not far from the secured area where ministerial discussions were taking place.
Across Europe, farmers have been staging protests for weeks, urging policymakers to address various challenges faced by the sector, from the impact of low supermarket prices to the adverse effects of low-cost imports on local producers, and the burdensome EU environmental regulations.
A parallel demonstration unfolded on Monday in Madrid, where farmers from different regions of Spain used whistles, cowbells, and drums to voice their concerns, calling on the EU to simplify bureaucratic processes and reconsider changes to the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).
Roberto Rodriguez from Avila expressed frustration, stating, ‘It’s impossible to cope with these regulations; they expect us to work in the fields during the day and handle paperwork at night – we’re exhausted from the bureaucracy.’ Similarly, Juan Pedro Laguna, a 46-year-old farmer near Madrid, emphasized the detrimental impact of the new CAP on their lives, stating, ‘We want to continue our traditional production methods, but they are discouraging us from doing so.’
Amidst these protests, agriculture ministers were scheduled to discuss new EU proposals aimed at alleviating the challenges faced by farmers. These proposals include a reduction in farm inspections and the potential exemption of small farms from certain environmental standards. #FarmersProtest #AgriculturalCrisis
