Angry farmers have started fires outside the European Parliament building in Brussels in protest against taxes, rising costs and cheap imports.
About 1,000 tractors have blocked major routes through the city, police estimate, with one displaying a banner reading “if you love the Earth, support those who manage it”.
Another banner read “no farmers, no food”, while others in the crowd threw eggs at the European Parliament building.
Officers in riot gear are guarding barriers where leaders are due to meet near parliament, with tractors parked in a central square.
“If you see with how many people we are here today, and if you see it’s all over Europe, so you must have hope,” said Kevin Bertens, a farmer from just outside Brussels.
“We must have hope that these people see that farming is necessary – it’s the food, you know.”
Farmers say they are choked by taxes and green rules, face unfair competition from abroad and aren’t paid enough.
Farmers burn rubbish and tyres. Pic: AP
Pic: AP
The farmers have already secured several measures, including EU proposals to limit farm imports from Ukraine and loosen some environmental regulations on fallow lands.
In France, where protests have been ongoing for weeks, the government promised more aid and dropped plans to gradually reduce subsidies on agricultural diesel.
But farmers, not satisfied with measures so far, have spread protests to countries like Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Germany and Italy.
The impact of protests has been felt in France, with blockades across the country reportedly hitting work that relies on transport.
People take cover behind a barrier outside the European Parliament. Pic: Reuters
Eric Hemar, the head of a federation of transport and logistics employers, told franceinfo a poll among members showed they have lost about 30% of their revenue over the past 10 days.
Elections on horizon
While the issues around farming are not on the agenda for the meeting – which is focused on aid for Ukraine – Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo suggested leaders will now discuss the situation.
“We also need to make sure that they can get the right price for the high-quality products that they provide,” he added.
“We also need to make sure that the administrative burden that they have remains reasonable.”
Smoke rises from a fire as tractors park up in Brussels. Pic: Reuters
European Parliament elections are set for June this year, with far-right parties – which increasingly attract farmers – possibly making gains.
Hungary’s right-wing prime minister, Viktor Orban, who EU leaders are trying to convince to back funding plans for Ukraine, met farmers overnight.
“We need to find new leaders who truly represent the interests of the people,” his spokesman sad.
Read more:
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