Farmer protests erupt across Europe over GREEN POLICIES that demand the obliteration of food production

By zoeysky // 2024-01-29

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Agricultural workers in several European countries say that green policies and taxes are eating into their profits, with farmers calling for more government subsidies. Farmer protests have sprung up in France, Germany and Romania ahead of the 2024 European Parliament election in June. The farmers' demands vary in general, but they are all suffering from environmental reforms and need more government subsidies to offset their losses.

Farmers in France forced government to address agricultural issues

Over the past few days, mass protests in Southern France have forced the government to address farmers' issues. On Jan. 22, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal met with Arnaud Rousseau, the president of the National Federation of Agricultural Operators' Unions (FNSEA). Earlier, farmers warned that they would continue to block some motorways until Attal listened to their demands. The FNSEA has since announced that it will decide later in January whether it will call for nationwide action. According to the farmers, the government's eco-transition policies make national producers uncompetitive. This makes farms unprofitable and forces France to buy food products from countries where environmental standards are weaker. The farmers are seeking better remuneration for their produce, less red tape and protection against cheap imports. Protesters are using their tractors to close down long stretches of road and slow traffic. Protest groups have also dumped agricultural waste at the gates of government offices. The protests in France are a sign of discontent in agricultural heartlands across the European Union.

Other groups join protesting farmers in Germany

In Berlin, eco-activists stood alongside protesting farmers. According to the farmers, they are fully supportive of environmentally friendly, genetically unmodified farming. However, they explained that they can only support organic farming methods if they have subsidies or, at least, fair prices set for their products. Farmers in Germany have complained that the government has hesitated to enforce such measures even after they have forwarded their demands to Agriculture Minister Cem Ozdemir. The farmers have been protesting on the streets of Germany since December 2023, when the federal government agreed on a budget canceling several decades-old farming subsidies and benefits. These could have saved German farmers more than 480 million euros ($521 million). Later, Berlin decided to ease the effect of the plans by making the benefit cuts gradual. The January protests in Germany highlight the deep frustration of the public with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government, which came to power just over two years ago with a progressive, modernizing agenda but has been considered by many as "dysfunctional and incapable." Scholz's government is struggling to resolve many issues and reconcile lofty aims, such as transforming Europe's biggest economy to meet climate targets and investing in neglected infrastructure while also meeting Germany's strict self-imposed rules on racking up debt. Scholz has said that he recognizes the various concerns that go beyond cuts to tax breaks on farmers' diesel fuel. Joachim Rukwied, the head of the German Farmers' Association (DBV), has explained that farmers are disappointed because they are being ignored "and they can't understand why they should be further burdened in European competition." Rukwied added that the DBV will try to win over lawmakers in talks within the coming days, but he warned that there will still be smaller-scale "actions" by farmers to emphasize their point. (Related: German farmers: Ukraine’s accession to the EU would destroy family farming and flood markets with cheap crops.) Other groups have sympathized with or joined in some German farmers' demonstrations. The groups have included road transport and hospitality associations.

Farmers in Romania block main roads with tractors

In Romania, farmers and truckers have been blocking main roads with their tractors and trucks for several weeks. The farmers are demanding lower taxes and fairer subsidies. However, talks with the government have failed, and they're continuing to protest. Farmers are also upset over the growing cost of insurance for heavy machinery. In a statement that was sent to media outlets by a local protest leader, protesters warned that they would continue protesting until they "see the first law approved that enforces solutions for as many of the problems" that they have pointed out. These protests are not centrally coordinated, which has hindered negotiations with the coalition government, which then faces local, parliamentary, presidential and European elections later this year. On Jan. 15, Agriculture Minister Florin Barbu and 10 farmer associations announced that they had reached an agreement on several demands, setting clear deadlines for meeting them. But despite the ongoing talks, the protests have continued. Haulers were still in negotiations with transport and finance ministries. The protesters have demanded a moratorium on loan repayments, faster subsidy payments and separate lines at border crossings and the Black Sea port of Constanta for EU lorries and trucks from outside the bloc, including Ukraine. Visit WorldAgriculture.news for more stories about agricultural issues across the globe. Watch the video below for more information about the many farmer protests across the globe. This video is from the Alex Hammer channel on Brighteon.com.

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Farmers in France forced government to address agricultural issues

Other groups join protesting farmers in Germany

Farmers in Romania block main roads with tractors

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