HE area inside Europe on the warpath. The majority of countries have registered or will register protests due to the instability of the sector, the demand for aid to alleviate the increase in the cost of living that they cannot offset by the sale of their products, and the long-standing unrest. According to him, the European Green Deal does not compensate for the extra expenses that the ecological transition will require. Next, we examine the different sources of unrest sweeping the continent’s main capitals:
Pressure on Olaf Scholz’s Government
Rural rebellion spread everywhere Germany In mid-January, a long week of protests culminated in thousands of tractor drivers destroying the center of Berlin. Unlike the French farmers, hostilities were directed not at their counterparts in the neighboring country, but at the government of Olaf Scholz. The trigger was: Cut in agricultural diesel subsidiesOne of the measures taken by the Executive in order to comply with the debt brake principle required by the Constitutional Court decision. Diesel aid represents no more than 6% of the total subsidies This situation, which German farmers had been feeling for decades, was the last straw in their discontent. Those particularly affected by the cuts organic farms And intimacy sector: Aid is given according to the size of the farms, so the smallest ones remain at a disadvantage. This is especially GreenThe partners and ministries of social democrat Scholz’s government include Scholz himself. Agriculture.
The German camp erected its protest in front of the symbolic Brandenburg Gate, and the protests continued weeks later, albeit on a regional scale. The impact of the shutdown on the German economy as a whole is relative; Its strength is the industry and export sector. In mobilizations far rightwho see rural discontent as a new vein to capture protest votes. Large organizations in the sector kept their distance from these political leaks, but did not give up their pressure on the Government. TEXT: GEMMA CASADEVALL
The boiling calmed down with concessions
After boiling for two weeks area Farmers in France may begin to ease the pressure after Emmanuel Macron’s government made concessions. FNSEA and Young Farmers, the main organizations of the primary sector in the neighboring country, said this Thursday ” suspension of blockades” About highways, roads or logistics centres. Aid measures announced by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal include a 150 million euro fund for livestock and the abandonment of the pesticide reduction plan, which had already been loose for months – or the preparation of a draft law on food sovereignty… Macron -The Attal Administration had already given up on the idea of gradually withdrawing food sovereignty last week. rural diesel tax subsidy. At the request of the French Government, the European Commission agreed to repeal another environmental measure: fallow protect biodiversity.
FNSEA and Young Farmers started on Monday “Siege” of the Paris area. With this monumental formula they christened the occupation and traffic disruptions on the eight main highways and roads of Île-de-France. Dozens of similar blockades, as well as stronger actions, were repeated in other parts of French territory: truck looting unloading of foreign products or agricultural products into administrative or large-scale distribution buildings. Even this Thursday they threw blocks of straw into the middle of the Champs Elysees.
The French president also emphasized that France is against the free trade agreement. Mercosur (main Latin American countries) – at least in its current form. after meeting with Ursula von der Leyen In the Belgian capital, Macron proposed to the president of the European Commission the development of European legislation framing relations between large retailers and farmers, taking the example of France’s Egalim laws, whose effects and bad practices have left both farmers unsatisfied. and consumer associations. He also advocated the establishment of a European health and agricultural control body. “prevent unfair competition“. The Commission president, for his part, promised that the European Union would “reduce the administrative burden” on farmers. TEXT: ENRIC BONET
Dissatisfaction with the European Union
Last week, the Italian camp also joined the protests of its counterparts in many European countries. Thousands of farmers and ranchers in the country demonstrated in various parts of the country. Italy to report their concerns low wages And increasing production costs They say they are victims.
The Italian rebellion, with banners writing protest slogans and even carrying coffins as a sign of rejection of the situation, particularly emphasized: Dissatisfaction with the European UnionTransalpine farmers are also responsible for worsening working conditions. In particular, the main complaint is this: European Green Deal In their view, this does not provide compensatory measures for the increase in expenditure resulting from the ecological transition.
Under these circumstances, at least for the time being, the Government Giorgia Meloni He was quite accommodating with the protesters. “We continue to believe that we stand with farmers and those who want to have enough income and work to create wealth for themselves and the country,” he said. Francesco LollobrigidaMinister of Agriculture and brother-in-law of the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.
Perhaps that’s why the protests have been largely peaceful so far. These actions were carried out in various parts of the country, from south to north, even on the islands and in traditionally left-ruled regions such as Tuscany.
In this context, the protest also leads to the emergence of new groups such as Riscatto Agricolo (Agricultural Rescue), which criticizes Brussels as well as traditional organizations that defend this sector. Their demands include calling for aid policies and reducing financial pressure on the sector, as well as a ban on the entry into community territory of agricultural products from non-European countries, where this field is not subject to the same demands as the EU. European. TEXT: IRENE SAVIO
Change in all 70-year-old agricultural policies
farmers week Belgium The protests, which started with small demonstrations in the south and north of the country, blocking roads, logistics centers of supermarket chains and even the entrance to the port of Zeebrugge, did not reach their peak with a major mobilization until this Thursday. Closed area in Brussels European Parliament and the highway surrounding the capital extraordinary summit of heads of state and government.
More than a thousand tractors traveled to the Belgian capital to show the anger of the countryside for a wide variety of reasons. “Disruption of competition” what they say creates agreements free tradeAs the EU negotiates with countries Mercosur; concessions made Ukraine import renewed by Brussels this week; hardening of some strict environmental rules putting them in unequal conditions compared to third country farmers and which they found to be “inconsistent”; increased administrative hurdles; or a decrease in revenue resulting from an increase in fuel prices or inflation.
Nor the proposal put forward by the European Commission this Wednesday, which would partially eliminate the obligation to allocate 4 percent of the land. fallowNeither the aid promised by the French or Portuguese government, nor the promises of Belgian politicians – Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo, together with his Dutch counterpart Mar Rutte and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo, met with farmers’ representatives. Commission, Ursula von der Leyen amply reassured protesters.
There were no major conflicts, but there were occasional attacks, numerous fireworks, a statue toppled, roads and highways closed, and numerous complaints. “The EU must be aware that the anger it feels today is the result of 70 years of agricultural policies that have forced us to get fat. subsidies“Before 10 years later they criminalize us for being too fat and polluting too much,” says Tijs Boelens, spokesman for the Boerenforum association. “We will blockade the country,” the young farmers threatened the association. TEXT: SILVIA MARTINEZ
“Lack of protection” against Ukrainian competition
PolandGermany, a largely rural country, has been subject to successive waves of rural protests for months, the largest of which was directed at a neighboring country. Ukraine. First, grain and other Ukrainian goods, heavily subsidized and even protected by the European Union (EU), were prevented from being transported through its territory; This is against the interests of Polish farmers. Thus, the line of unconditional solidarity that Poland showed against the country attacked by the great common enemy was broken. Russia. The Polish countryside received assurances from its Government and Brussels that these cheap grains would transit but not remain in its home market. The blockades were lifted. However, the change in power is in favor of pro-European Donald Tusk once again reignited the morale of farmers, a sector mostly loyal to the previous government of the ultra-conservative party Law and Justice (PiS). According to the Polish camp, Brussels and Tusk are enemies of their own interests.
Romania There were no major central concentrations, but there were protests in 21 of 47 regional districts. Like many of their European counterparts, they depend on subsidies to the sector to maintain their operations and share with the Poles a sense of “vulnerability” in the face of Ukrainian competition. social democratic government Marcel Ciolacu He eased the situation by announcing subsidies for agricultural fuels and other fiscal formulas to support the countryside. The presence of the elements also added weight to the protests. far rightAlthough the main unions have kept their distance from any political intervention. TEXT: GEMMA CASADEVALL