The producers demonstrated in Belgium to put pressure on the Ministers of Agriculture of the member countries of the supranational community.
Hundreds of European farmers protested the end of the negotiations of the agreement between the Mercosur and the European Union (EU) in Brussels, Belgium)after mobilizing more than 900 tractors and other equipment in what was considered a show of force to pressure the Ministers of Agriculture of the member countries of the supranational community.
Protesters set tires on fire near the European institutions and the police had to respond by launching tear gas. Among the claims that have been made since the beginning of January, agricultural producers asked for the definitive cessation of trade negotiations with the Mercosur countries, after the European Commission (EC) that the conditions are not met to conclude a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
At the meeting, the ministers discussed proposals for flexibility and a possible review of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)in an attempt to appease the spirits of the farmers who have been chaining weeks of protests since Spain until Poland to denounce the competition of countries outside the bloc, as well as the excess of bureaucracy and impositions regarding biodiversity and polluting emissions.
He German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture Cem Özdemircompared the PAC to a “bureaucratic monster” and noted that “the priority must be work in the fields and not bureaucratic paperwork.”
The rural producer Marieke Van de Vivere She was more direct with her criticism of the CAP and stated: “When one of our horses poops, we have to report how much it has done, what happens to that poop, where it will go and when. It’s too crazy to explain.”
Macron rejects the agreement with Mercosur, but is not convinced of limiting international trade
On the weekend, the President of France, Emmanuel Macronreaffirmed his rejection of the agreement with Mercosur in the Salon International de l’Agriculture (SIA)where he was booed by the farmers present.
Faced with this hostile climate generated by producers, Macron promised not to sign the agreement, although he expressed his rejection of the idea that promoting international trade would harm the local agricultural sector.
He former president of the Republic, José Mujicasaid in the last hours that both Mercosur and Uruguay They already “wasted 22 years” in the search to sign the FTA with the EU.
Source: Ambito
