In various European countries, including Poland, Hungary, Spain, and Belgium, farmers have intensified their protests against EU regulations and escalating prices,
leading to road blockades and demonstrations.
In western Poland, approximately 1,400 tractors participated in a protest in Poznan, while roads were blocked across the nation. Similarly, for the fourth consecutive day, tractors disrupted traffic in multiple Spanish regions, aiming to reach cities like Toledo and Zaragoza.
The protests have united farmers across the continent, although their grievances vary significantly. Polish and Hungarian farmers argue that the EU isn't adequately addressing the issue of cheap imports from Ukraine, which undercut local agricultural products. They demand the reinstatement of a requirement for Ukrainian truckers to acquire permits to work within the 27 member states.
In Poland, lines of tractors, many adorned with the national flag, appeared on roads in 256 locations, causing traffic disruptions and necessitating police diversions. Protesters in Poznan ignited flares and firecrackers, with some pouring waste onto the streets. Organizers estimated that around 6,000 farmers converged on the city.
Many demonstrators expressed opposition to the EU's Green Deal, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The situation turned tense in Bydgoszcz, where protestors set tires and straw ablaze along with an EU flag. Attempts to enter a local authority building were thwarted by police using pepper spray.
The new agriculture minister, Czeslaw Siekierski, engaged with protesting farmers in Przyborowice, northwest of Warsaw, acknowledging their plight and emphasizing the government's commitment to dialogue.
Elsewhere, in Hungary, hundreds of farmers gathered with their tractors at the main border-crossing with Ukraine in Zahony, joining the pan-European protests for the first time. They protested against cheap Ukrainian imports that undermine Hungarian markets and expressed solidarity with farmers across Europe.
In Spain, farmers continued to blockade roads, causing disruptions in cities such as Bilbao and Pamplona. While residents woke up to find tractors occupying city centers, agriculture unions in the Basque country criticized EU policies, prompting Minister Luis Planas to stress the importance of peaceful protest.
Greek farmers demanded various concessions, including lower electricity prices and tax-free diesel, while Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis signaled openness to dialogue while emphasizing the need to keep roads open.
In Italy, farmers planned demonstrations during the Sanremo song festival and around Rome's motorway ring road. However, a major rally in Piazza San Giovanni was canceled to avoid inconveniencing the public. Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida reassured farmers of the government's alignment with many of their concerns, promising targeted support for those with the lowest incomes.