Thousands of farmers from across Europe are set to protest in Brussels on Thursday, voicing strong opposition to EU plans for a trade deal with the South American bloc Mercosur and reforming agricultural subsidies.
The demonstration is expected to draw around 10,000 participants from all 27 EU member states, with some 40 agricultural organisations confirming their presence. Organisers said the demonstration was intended to send a “strong and united message” to the European Commission
Hundreds of tractors are expected to converge on the European quarter of the Belgian capital around noon, coinciding with an EU Council summit attended by European leaders. The protest takes place just hours before European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen travels to Brazil.
A key focus of the protest is the EU’s planned Mercosur trade agreement. Farmers are worried that the trade agreement would result in cheap agricultural products flooding the market. These would not be subject to the same onerous EU standards and environmental regulations that European producers must follow.
They also oppose plans put forward by the European Commission to overhaul the 27-nation bloc’s huge farming subsidies. Walloon Agricultural Federation (FWA) said Brussels’ plans to slash the subsidies scheme by 20% while pushing ahead with the Mercosur deal were “totally unacceptable”.
Farmers are also calling for simplification, clearer regulations, and legal certainty in their work.
