:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/PKCLADV7ZIEBNFICCMK4PXZ3LI.jpg "The farmers’ protests in France spread to Italy and Belgium with the request for better prices on their products")
Farmers across Europe have taken their grievances to the streets once again, blocking traffic arteries in Belgium, France, and Italy in an effort to disrupt trade at major ports and economic hubs. The protests come as farmers seek better prices for their products and less bureaucracy in their work.
The demonstrations have remained mostly peaceful, with a few exceptions. French police arrested a hundred protesters who broke into Europe’s largest food market, the Rungis compound, and armored vehicles now block the entrances. The protests are having an economic impact as disruptions spread across the block, affecting millions of people who face difficulties getting to work or having their appointments canceled.
In response to the protests, the European Commission has announced plans to protect farmers from cheap wartime exports from Ukraine and allow farmers to use some land that had been forced to leave uncultivated for environmental reasons. However, the plans still need approval from all 27 member states and the European Parliament.
The protests are part of a larger wave of agricultural protests across the EU, highlighting how the block of a few hundred tractors can clog traffic in several major capitals. Belgian farmers are set to protest outside EU headquarters during a summit of government leaders, aiming to win concessions on financial burdens they face and increased competition from nations as far away as Chile and New Zealand.
The protests have sparked extreme caution from EU governments, as well as promised efforts from various officials to listen to the farmers’ concerns. The Spanish agricultural associations have also agreed to start protests in the coming weeks to demand changes to what they describe as excessively restrictive EU policies.
In France, the protesters have tried to maintain their humor and coordination by providing provisions and even trying to bribe police officers with French croissants made with French flour. Despite causing widespread inconvenience, the protests are forcing European officials to consider the demands of the continent’s farmers.