Farmers’ demonstrations in the European Union have escalated, with hundreds of farmers blocking major routes in France and Belgium with more than 1,300 tractors outside the European Parliament in Brussels. The French government had earlier warned farmers that any disturbance at Rungis would be a red line, and hundreds of riot police were stationed there. Farmers in Brussels tossed eggs at Parliament buildings and started many fires around the area. Slurry and farmyard manure were also applied to several of the European Parliament buildings in France and Belgium.
Farmers are outraged that the European Commission continues to reduce financial assistance for agriculture under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which is intended to shield farmers against declining prices and cheap imports. They are also witnessing an increase in environmental restrictions, which they claim will be hard to comply while producing food for a rapidly rising global population. The European Green Deal, which seeks to make Europe carbon-neutral by 2050, and the nature restoration legislation, meant to “improve biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems” are important points of dispute for farmers.
Under pressure, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said that a proposal to reduce administrative costs will be submitted at an upcoming EU ministerial meeting. According to Janusz Wojciechowski, EU Commissioner for Agriculture, this temporary exception achieves a compromise between the need to help farmers in the near term and the need to maintain the climate, soil health, and biodiversity over time.
The situation is now heated in several member states, with farmers flocking to the streets as the viability of European family farming as we know it is under threat. Focus will now be on the politicians as the European Parliament elections are scheduled for June of this year. MEPs are afraid that far-right groups, which are drawing more farmers, may acquire electoral support.
