Peasant protests erupt across Europe, but some have been called off

advertisement

European countries like the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, and Poland all have something in common. These farmers are dissatisfied with their lot.

The movement, sparked by concerns about low wages, strict regulations and cheap imports, is calling for action from farmers in Spain, Italy, Germany, Romania and Greece.

Convoys of tractors marched menacingly across residential streets in Poland and across bridges in Germany, while agricultural protesters in Italy lit spectacular fires with stone statues at night.

Farmers blocked roads on the Dutch-Belgian border and in Greece. Poland plans to close border crossings with Ukraine amid European protests over costs and bureaucracy.

But French farmers were forced to leave Paris on Friday, a day after the government offered farmers more than 400 million euros in aid in a range of measures to address complaints of low incomes, tough regulations and unfair competition from abroad. Barriers are gradually being lifted in various parts of the country.

On major thoroughfares around Paris, demonstrators removed tents, cleared roads and set fire to straw bales used as barricades. A convoy of tractors was leaving the scene peacefully and orderly as a heavy police presence was deployed to ensure the security of the operation.

Romania’s coalition government also announced Friday that it had reached an agreement with farmers and transporters to end weeks of protests over high business costs. Hundreds of farmers and truck drivers began protests three weeks ago, with convoys of tractors and trucks slowing down and blocking traffic on national highways near major cities, including the capital Bucharest.

Many of farmers’ concerns vary by country. Germany plans to phase out tax breaks on agricultural diesel to balance its budget, while the Netherlands is calling for mandatory reductions in nitrogen emissions, with farmers hit hardest.

But while many of farmers’ concerns are country-specific, many are not.

Farmers say they face falling selling prices, rising costs, tough regulations, powerful and overbearing retailers, debt, climate change and cheap foreign imports.

Especially since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, many EU member states have seen rising costs, especially for energy, fertilizer and transport. Not to mention the disruption to normal trade flows.

The war in Ukraine led to the EU abandoning its quotas and obligations in the wake of Russia’s invasion, resulting in a massive influx of cheap agricultural products from Ukraine. Farmers say this is driving down prices and creating unfair competition.