European farmers block Brussels in huge tractor protest

BRUSSELS, Belgium – Belgian police on Monday, September 7, fired water cannon at European farmers who lobbed hay and fireworks as they demanded EU intervention against plunging food prices partly blamed on a Russian embargo.

The European Commission said it would release 500 million euros ($557 million) in emergency funds to help ease the pressure on farmers, as agriculture ministers held crisis talks on the situation. 

The protest involved what organisers said was up to 6,000 farmers, who blocked streets in Brussels with hundreds of tractors, who targeted the heavily-guarded European Union headquarters where the talks took place.

Police briefly fired water cannon at protesters as farmers used a machine to shoot hay at police, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reporters said. Protesters also hurled eggs and set fire to planks of wood and tyres, sending thick black smoke wafting over EU buildings. 

A combination of factors, including changing dietary habits, slowing Chinese demand and a Russian embargo on Western products in response to sanctions over the Ukraine conflict, has pushed down prices for beef, pork and milk.

“We are here today to demand EU action,” Albert Jan Maat, president of European farmers association Copa, told reporters outside the ministers meeting in central Brussels.

“EU farmers are paying the price for international politics,” he said, adding the Russian embargo hit the EU’s main export market which is worth 5.5 billion euros. 

Most of the protesters were from Belgium, France and Germany, but there were others from Britain, Ireland and other EU countries including Italy, Portugal and Lithuania. 

“There have been hundreds of suicides as a result of disastrous agricultural policies,” said Remy Hulin, a retired farmer from the Calvados region of northern France carrying an effigy in farmer’s overalls hanging from a gallows.

‘Difficult situation’ 

The European Commission said it was “well aware of the difficult situation” faced by farmers, as it announced a plan to immediately release 500 million euros in EU funds for them.

“This is a robust and decisive response. This demonstrates that the Commission takes its responsibility towards farmers very seriously and is prepared to back it up with the appropriate funds,” EU Vice President Jyrki Katainen said.

In France, the agriculture minister previously estimated that around 10% of farms – approximately 22,000 sites – are on the brink of bankruptcy with a combined debt of one billion euros.

The European Council, which represents member states, said the agriculture ministers will debate “the state of play of agriculture markets in the EU” with much of the focus on milk prices. 

The ministers would also discuss “the impact on the EU market of the import ban on EU agricultural products imposed by Russia,” the council said. 

“We are faced with a deteriorating market situation that means the European Commission must take action,” French Agriculture Minister Stephane Foll said.

In July, the EU extended until next year a multi-million euro aid package to help struggling European farmers hit by Russian sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.

The farm associations Copa and Cogeca said more than 6,000 farmers and 2,000 tractors were taking part in the protest.

The associations say the EU agri-food sector accounts for 40 million jobs and exports more than 120 billion euros worth of produce every year. – Rappler.com