EU farmers protest rising costs, cheap imports
Farmers in Belgium and the Netherlands blocked key border crossings on Friday, adding to growing unrest across Europe's agricultural sector, as reported by Agerpres.
Protesters are voicing anger over rising costs, cheap imports, and EU policies they perceive as unfair.
The action began in Belgium on Thursday, targeting crossings near Antwerp, the country's second-largest city and a major trade hub. By Friday, Dutch farmers joined, blocking access to the port of Zeebrugge, leaving nearly 2,000 trucks stranded.
"It's unfair to European farmers that Brussels has introduced regulations that constantly increase production costs, while allowing imports from countries where these rules don't apply," complained Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who met with protesting farmers in Brussels. He added that some leaders at the recent EU summit called for halting Ukrainian agricultural imports due to their impact on European producers.
Similar concerns are fueling protests across Europe. From Germany and Poland to Greece and Portugal, farmers express discontent with EU climate measures and the decision to accept cheaper Ukrainian imports in support of Ukraine's war effort.
While many European farmers support Ukraine, they argue that these imports create unfair competition due to lower production costs and potentially weaker regulations in Ukraine. Additionally, rising energy prices and input costs are squeezing profit margins, with some feeling unfairly burdened by regulations while competing with imports perceived as less regulated.
Authorities in Belgium and the Netherlands advised travellers to avoid certain routes as protests continue. The European Commission has acknowledged the farmers' concerns and is reportedly considering measures to address their challenges.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
