Farmers take protest to Brussels at the start of the EU summit
February 1, 2024
Farmers blocked roads leading to the European Union summit in Brussels on Thursday using around 1,000 tractors, Belgian police said.
A police officer told French news agency AFP that “there are 1,000 tractors or agricultural machines.”
Angry farmers complain about taxes, rising costs, cheap imports, rules and bureaucracy. They hope their protests will make their voices heard at the summit.
What happened at the protests?
Riot police stood guard behind barriers where EU leaders gather, just a few blocks from the European Parliament building, surrounded by tractors.
Some protesting farmers threw eggs at the parliament building, while others set off fireworks and started fires. Police responded using water cannons, Belgian media reported.
A tractor displayed a banner saying: “If you love the earth, support those who steward it.” Another banner read: “No farmers, no food.”
DW’s Christine Mhundwa was at the European Council building when leaders arrived for the special summit. She reported seeing around 1,000 tractors, adding that they had stayed overnight.
Why are farmers protesting?
Farmers argue that their wages are inadequate and that taxes and green rules are stifling them as they face unfair competition from abroad.
“They came to convey a message to EU leaders: your business is not sustainable. Farmers say they are experiencing price increases – the cost of doing business has increased by up to 30,000 euros (about $32,400) per year,” said DW’s Mhundwa, pointing to rising prices for fertilizers, electricity and fuel.
Mhundwa said farmers were also concerned about “ambitious” targets set by the EU to reduce carbon emissions, which have a direct impact on how they can operate.
“They came to send a message saying this is difficult,” said the DW correspondent. He added that the EU’s generous agricultural subsidies tend to benefit large farmers, while it is small farmers who are protesting in Brussels.
Source: DW
Lori Barajas is an accomplished journalist, known for her insightful and thought-provoking writing on economy. She currently works as a writer at 247 news reel. With a passion for understanding the economy, Lori’s writing delves deep into the financial issues that matter most, providing readers with a unique perspective on current events.