Expansion of farmers’ protest to all Europe / Arrest of more than 70 protesting farmers in France

According to the international group Tasnim news agency, in Astana Holding the meeting of the heads of European countries in Brussels, farmers’ protests are spreading all over Europe. French and Belgian farmers once again protested against rising costs, environmental regulations and cheap imports by blocking roads.

In France, a long line of tractors headed for Rungis wholesale market moved near Paris. At the same time, Gerald Darwinin, the French Minister of the Interior, strongly warned farmers against trying to block this site, the airport or even the capital itself.

French TV A video showed police forces stopping tractors in the Loire to prevent them from entering Paris. In total, French police forces recorded about 100 sieges by farmers, Darminin said. Farmers blocked the access roads to the container port of Zeebrugge.

Similar to what happened recently in Germany, where tens of thousands of farmers demonstrated in Berlin in mid-January. French farmers have blocked the entrance to highways or other roads with tractors in several places in the past few days.

Poland and Romania were also the scene of farmers’ protests.

Similar actions and protests have already taken place in other European countries such as Poland and Romania. Spanish farmers have also announced that they will join this movement.

The spread of farmers’ protests in Italy

The protest of farmers in Italy is also expanding. Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida met representatives of protesting farmers with tractors on Wednesday. About 300 demonstrators had gathered in front of the entrance to an agricultural exhibition in Verona, to which the minister had been invited. Lollobrigida assured that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government is aware of the demands of this sector.

Matteo Salvini, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, on Wednesday, Ursula von In Lain, the president of the European Commission held the farmers’ protests responsible. “Farmers who have brought their tractors to the roads across Europe have a problem with the current European Commission,” Salvini told reporters at the European Parliament in Brussels. He emphasized: The work of the von der Leyen Commission on agriculture and when it comes to work and rights is disastrous. Most of the problems are related to Europe’s crazy pseudo-green policies that affect farmers, fishermen and truck drivers. It is clear that this Europe has put ideology above work.

This is anger against a wide range of issues that farmers perceive as disadvantages. In the meantime, the import of agricultural products from Ukraine has received special attention. Farmers in the European Union see their businesses at risk because tariffs on goods from Ukraine were suspended following the war that broke out there, meaning products are coming in at much lower prices. become the European Union. There are also protests against rising prices for raw materials – as well as lab-grown meat and insect meal.

As ​​a concession to European farmers, the EU Commission proposed on Wednesday Limit the import of agricultural products from Ukraine. Therefore, import tariffs should be suspended for another year until June 2025. However, if more of these products are imported into the EU in the future than the average for 2022 and 2023, tariffs may be imposed on key products such as chicken, eggs and sugar.

However, from Athens to Brussels: in many European countries, farmers are taking to the streets.

In several European countries, farmers have been protesting for weeks against policies Their governments’ agriculture and EU directives have hit the streets. In Germany, France, Belgium, Greece and Italy, among others, farmers blocked important roads with their tractors. Protests in Brussels may reach their peak on Thursday. The meeting of the EU heads of state will be held there.

Continuation of farmers’ protests in Germany

In Germany, the state of Bavaria was the focus of recent farmers’ protests on Wednesday. Police reported dozens of demonstrations and blockades, for example in Lower Bavaria, Upper Franconia, Upper Flatenes and Swabia.

German Farmers’ Association in an open letter from Olaf German chancellor Schulz asked to introduce aid for agriculture. This should include a “proper solution” for agricultural diesel, a tax break for the use of non-fossil fuels and a serious and effective initiative to reduce bureaucracy, the letter said.

French farmers besiege the country’s big cities

According to the French government, about 10,000 farmers went on strike yesterday for the third day in a row They came to the streets to continue their protests. With their tractor caravans, they were not only in front of Paris and near the wholesale market of Rungis, but they also approached other big cities. In Toulouse, southwest France, they tried to block an organic market. The police managed to prevent this. Farmers also tried to block important access roads to Lyon, the third largest city. On their way to the wholesale market of Rungis in the city of Paris, he shouted: We will fight this battle because if we don’t fight, we will die. The government had warned farmers not to block this site like other important sites. Near the wholesale market, police arrested 18 people for disrupting traffic.

At least 79 protesting farmers arrested in France

Amid the spread of farmers’ protests in France, dozens of farmers entered the Rongis wholesale market in Paris despite a heavy police presence. The BFMTV television channel reported on Wednesday evening, quoting the police, that at least 79 farmers were arrested. Property was damaged in a warehouse of the wholesale market. Riot police were present in the area with armored vehicles, wheel loaders and helicopters.

Some farmers bypassed the police cordon and continued on their way to Paris. Farmers blocked most of the highways around the capital.

French President Emmanuel Macron is very concerned that farmers’ protests just before European elections in June will lead to a movement like the The yellow vests became five years ago, led by the extreme right around Marine Le Pen.

Angry farmers also took to the streets in Belgium

In Belgium, farmers’ protests are also carried out with the aim of disrupting trade in important ports. To do this, they blocked several roads in the country, including the access roads to the container port of Zeebrugge. On Thursday, farmers also plan to protest in front of the EU headquarters in Brussels, when the EU summit will be held there.

“Alexander D Crowe, Prime Minister of Belgium, showed his willingness to address farmers’ concerns. “It’s important to listen to them,” he said. He said to the farmers: “You are dealing with big challenges.” These include pollution and climate change. De Croo, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, said he would raise the issue at Thursday’s meeting.

Farmers block important highways in Greece

In Greece, farmers blocked the most important north-south highway in the country with their tractors. This road connects Thessaloniki in the north with the capital city of Athens. The news channel ERT News reported that there was a protest against the increase in the price of fertilizer and diesel. Farmers also want more help to mitigate the consequences of climate change. They criticize that government compensation for serious natural disasters last year was too low and some were not paid. Last fall, a large part of the harvest was destroyed in parts of Greece due to severe fires and floods. Farmers are also increasingly suffering from drought and forest fires in the summer months.

The highway blockade took place about 150 kilometers north of Athens. It is not clear how long this protest will last. Greek farmers have demonstrated in almost all regions of the country for the past few days. The most important border crossing with Turkey was temporarily blocked near the port city of Alexandroupolis. According to the statement of the farmers’ associations, the tractors are going to paralyze the port city of Thessaloniki in the coming days. will support them. At the same time, he asked them not to harm the country with the siege. Mitsotakis said: “No matter how serious the demands of a professional group are, it should not lead to the punishment of all citizens and the violation of society’s rights.” They also announced that they will support the planned protests in Brussels on Thursday.

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