Since early Monday morning, February 26th, Brussels has been the scene of massive farmers' protests. The occasion is a special meeting of the EU agriculture ministers. Alarmed by the numerous actions with which farmers have been protesting against agricultural policy in several member states for weeks, they now want to discuss relief.

EU ministers are trying to limit the damage

As the BR reports , the ministers are discussing how farmers can be freed from unnecessary controls and bureaucracy. It should also become easier to get help. Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir emphasized that farmers should not be slowed down by unnecessary desk work. This currently accounts for a quarter of the activity for farmers.

The minister emphasized that the status quo was not in the interests of the farmers. A fight must be declared against the death of farms, which has characterized the past few years. It's about bringing competitiveness and species protection together. The current EU agricultural policy is “a bureaucratic monster”. Dairy farmers should also no longer be “the big losers” in EU policy.

France is calling for an EU compromise to defuse emissions from poultry and pig farming. In December, representatives of the federal states and members of the EU Parliament agreed on limit values ​​for “industrial” companies. Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau called for “pragmatic” solutions in the interests of farmers. Brussels had already relaxed regulations for a minimum proportion of fallow land on arable land.

Clashes with emergency services in Brussels

However, there is little confidence among the protesting farmers in the determination of politicians to bring about changes in their favor. This is one of the reasons why the farmers' actions on Monday in Brussels were particularly violent. Tires burned, tractors broke through police barricades, in some places manure was sprayed and straw bales flew in the direction of the emergency services.

#Farmers protests in #Brussels pic.twitter.com/ZA8xmL7JFN

— Mittelstand in Middle Franconia (@MittelstandMfr) February 26, 2024

By clicking on the following button, you agree that the content will be loaded from Twitter.

Load Twitter content

Some of them responded with the use of tear gas and water cannons. According to the Belgian news agency “Belga”, at least 900 tractors are said to have arrived.

Fires blazed outside buildings belonging to the EU institutions on the morning of February 26, as the EU-wide farmers’ protests returned to the streets of Brussels. https://t.co/OyscsDZNyv

— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) February 26, 2024

By clicking on the following button, you agree that the content will be loaded from Twitter.

Load Twitter content

Two metro stations in Brussels were closed; There were also numerous traffic disruptions in the Belgian capital.

I have lived in the EU district in #Brussels for 7 years and have never seen a mobilization of such violence... these #farmers from BE FR DE ia literally besieged the district... #farmersprotest pic.twitter.com/ 5LHh9tBOxC

— Philippe Doliger (@PhilippeDoliger) February 26, 2024

By clicking on the following button, you agree that the content will be loaded from Twitter.

Load Twitter content

Brussels is far from taking note of all of farmers' concerns

The farmers' protests in Europe are partly directed against political decisions at the national level - such as the removal of agricultural diesel benefits in Germany. However, some themes connect the protests in all European countries where they have occurred so far.

This is against cheap imports, which farmers fear due to planned trade agreements and the privileged import regulations for grain from Ukraine. In addition, bureaucracy and ever-increasing environmental regulations are a thorn in the side of farmers.

The so-called Green Deal, which is intended to make the EU “climate neutral” by 2050, is perceived by farmers as a utopian drawing board project that makes it impossible for them to run their businesses economically.

Peasant protests in Poland also on the border with Germany

Meanwhile, farmers' protests against imported grain from Ukraine continued in Poland. As “Euronews” reports , farmers also protested in the west of the country on Monday. Among other things, farmers with tractors closed the motorway border crossing with Germany in Frankfurt an der Oder.

In the previous weeks there had been several blockages of border crossings with Ukraine. At the weekend, farmers also stopped trains that were transporting duty-free imported grain from the war-torn neighboring country. The farmers broke open wagons and rendered the load unusable.

Polish farmers protect the value of their agricultural products by preventing cheap imports. #Peasant protests in Polish. https://t.co/i2Bwdq7zUl

— Klaus Hagn (@hagn_klaus) February 26, 2024

By clicking on the following button, you agree that the content will be loaded from Twitter.

Load Twitter content

Disappointment in Ukraine over the actions of Polish farmers

Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakow complained that around 160 tons of grain were destroyed in the operation. These were on their way to the port of Gdansk to be shipped from there to third countries.

On Ukrainian farmers have had to wear bulletproof vests to harvest for two years, paying attention to rocket attacks and the danger of mines.
Of Ukraine's grain exports, 90 percent passed through the Black Sea. Countries in Africa and Asia depend on them.

The scattering of Ukrainian grain on the railroad tracks is another political provocation aimed at dividing our nations.

For 2 years, Ukrainian farmers have been harvesting grain in bulletproof vests, under rocket attacks and mine danger. And the Ukrainian army has literally… pic.twitter.com/swu4tLW1hM

— Oleksandr Kubrakov (@OlKubrakov) February 20, 2024

By clicking on the following button, you agree that the content will be loaded from Twitter.

Load Twitter content

Spain: Large-scale farmers' rally in Madrid

Protests against agricultural policy continue in Spain too. In Madrid, several thousand farmers from across the country gathered to protest against ideological environmental policies and excessive bureaucracy.

At a demonstration in Madrid, farmers from across Spain blew whistles, rang cowbells and beat drums. As Yahoo News reported , participants called on the EU to ease regulations and roll back some changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with its subsidies and other programs. For example, grain and beet farmer Roberto Rodriguez from Avila province said:

“It is impossible to come to terms with these regulations. They want us to work in the fields during the day and deal with paperwork at night – we are tired of bureaucracy.”