EU agriculture leaders convene in Brussels while farmers engage in a confrontation with riot police.
In the European quarter of Brussels, there was a confrontation between farmers and police that turned violent. The farmers sprayed liquid manure at the officers and set fire to piles of tires while the EU’s agriculture ministers were holding a meeting to address the crisis in their industry.
According to police, there were also demonstrations by farmers in Madrid and along the border of Poland and Germany. In the center of Brussels, at least 900 tractors caused traffic congestion as part of the protest. Protesters threw objects and set off fireworks, while riot police responded with water cannons.
A group of farmers from Spain, Portugal, and Italy teamed up with their peers in Belgium to demonstrate the power of a months-long, continent-wide movement calling for action on issues such as expensive production costs, low prices for their products, the influx of inexpensive imports from outside the EU, and the strict environmental regulations imposed by the EU.
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The ongoing demonstrations, which resulted in French president Emmanuel Macron being confronted by angry farmers at the Paris agricultural fair on Saturday, have caused concern among leaders ahead of the upcoming European elections in June. These elections are expected to bring significant success for far-right populist parties.
Government officials were convening to discuss plans put forth by the European Commission to alleviate the burden on farmers. These proposals include streamlining the common agricultural policy (CAP) by decreasing farm inspections and exempting small farms from certain environmental regulations.
The French agriculture minister, Marc Fesneau, stated that we need a practical and functional solution. He mentioned that there is flexibility within the existing regulations, but meeting certain requests would involve amending the legislation.
According to Fesneau, the timing of the changes is insignificant in regards to the European parliament elections. The important thing is to focus on progress and establish a clear objective for a CAP that instills confidence in people.
Germany’s Minister of Agriculture, Cem Özdemir, stated that the EU must guarantee fair compensation for farmers who choose to implement biodiversity and environmental measures. He added that the average farmer spends a significant amount of time handling EU bureaucracy, which he refers to as a “monster”.
The agriculture minister of Belgium, David Clarinval, acknowledged that farmers’ grievances have been taken into consideration. However, he urged them to avoid resorting to violence. Similarly, the agriculture minister of Ireland, Charlie McConalogue, emphasized the importance of reducing bureaucratic obstacles as a top priority.
According to the speaker, the EU must guarantee that its policies are uncomplicated, fair, and easy for farmers to follow. He emphasized the significance of farmers’ daily efforts in producing food and expressed respect for their hard work.
The European Union has made some revisions to its prominent green deal proposal in order to satisfy farmers, removing mentions of agricultural emissions from its 2040 climate strategy, retracting a measure to reduce pesticide usage, and postponing a goal for farmers to set aside land to enhance biodiversity.
The group has implemented measures to prevent an overflow of Ukrainian imports in the market, following the implementation of a tariff-free program after Russia’s invasion in 2022.
The demonstration was the second by farmers in Brussels within the past few weeks.
Marieke Van De Vivere, a farmer from the Ghent region of Belgium, expressed that they feel neglected by the government. She believes that the ministers should have a better understanding of their situation by spending a day working alongside them in the fields, with the horses, or tending to the animals. The strict regulations imposed on them make their job difficult.
According to Morgan Ody of the small farmers’ organization La Via Campesina, the primary concern for most farmers is their income. Ody explained, “It’s a matter of our poverty and our desire to have a respectable livelihood.”
She urged the European Union to establish minimum support prices and terminate free trade agreements that allow for the import of less expensive foreign goods. She clarified, “We are not opposed to environmental policies. However, we understand that in order to make the transition, we must have higher prices for products due to the higher costs of producing them in an eco-friendly manner.”
On Monday, farmers in Madrid held a protest by using whistles, cowbells, and drums to demand that the EU reduce bureaucracy and eliminate some of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Juan Pedro Laguna, aged 46, stated that the new CAP is causing harm to their livelihoods.
According to Roberto Rodriguez, a farmer in the province of Avila, it is “unreasonable” to follow these regulations that require working in the fields during the day and completing paperwork at night. He and other farmers are exhausted by the bureaucratic demands.
Polish farmers staged a protest on Monday at a major border crossing with Germany, opposing both EU regulations and the influx of inexpensive food from Ukraine. They will continue their demonstration in the capital city of Warsaw on Tuesday.
According to Adrian Wawrzyniak, a representative of the Solidarity farmers’ association, there are also German farmers participating in the blockade on the German side. This display of solidarity is a joint effort.
The prime minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, stated on Monday that the issues faced by farmers require attention at the EU level. He emphasized that although Poland is the first EU country bordering Ukraine, the problem affects the entire EU agriculture industry and should be addressed in that context. This was conveyed during a press conference.
Source: theguardian.com
