Farmers crowd EU neighborhood in Brussels as ministers meet
February 26, 2024
Farmers set fire to tires and blocked roads in a protest in Brussels on Monday.
More than 100 tractors were parked around the headquarters of European Union institutions as Agriculture ministers met to discuss the sector.
Police carrying riot gear patrolled barriers set up near the headquarters and fired water cannons to put out the flames.
What are the farmers’ protests about?
Protesters are demanding EU action on cheap supermarket produce, low-cost imports and environmental rules that farmers say put too much pressure on the agricultural sector.
Farmers argue that allowing cheap imports puts pressure on EU agriculture, which cannot compete with other countries with more flexible environmental regulations.
Farmers’ association European Coordination Via Campesina said the EU had not done enough to respond to demands. Belgian, German, Dutch and French agricultural associations also called on members to join the protest.
Farmers also protested against negotiations between Brussels and the South American economic bloc Mercosur.
Source: DW
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