European Farmers Storm Brussels in Protest Over Harsh Agricultural Policies
Thousands of farmers from across Europe descended on Brussels on Thursday, paralysing the city with a dramatic show of defiance as European Union (EU) leaders convened for a major summit. Driving convoys of tractors, the protesters jammed streets around the European Parliament, honking horns, throwing eggs, and lighting fires to demand fairer policies and relief from mounting financial and environmental pressures.
Police estimated that around 1,000 tractors rolled into the Belgian capital, blocking traffic and prompting warnings of major disruptions. Protesters carried banners reading No farmers, no food — a slogan that has become a rallying cry for farmers struggling under the EU’s agricultural rules. While the summit’s agenda focused on funding for Ukraine, the demonstration thrust Europe’s agricultural crisis back into the political spotlight. Farmers are demanding reforms to the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy, arguing that high taxes, strict environmental laws, and cheap imports — particularly from Ukraine — are crippling their businesses.
Analysts say the discontent is widespread across the continent. Eastern European farmers are protesting against low-cost Ukrainian produce, which they view as unfair competition. Western farmers, meanwhile, are frustrated with environmental regulations under the EU Green Deal, which they claim increase operational costs and threaten their livelihoods. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo acknowledged the farmers’ grievances as perfectly legitimate, stressing the need to balance environmental sustainability with the economic survival of Europe’s agricultural sector.
The European Commission has since proposed temporary relief measures, including suspending a rule that requires farmers to leave 4% of their arable land fallow for biodiversity. It also suggested extending the waiver on import duties for Ukrainian goods while offering additional protections for vulnerable EU products. However, protests continue to spread across France, Spain, Poland, Italy, and Greece, with farmers warning that demonstrations will persist until their concerns are met. As Europe grapples with the dual challenge of climate change and food security, the outcome of these negotiations could reshape the future of farming across the continent.