Criticism of EU agricultural policy

Violent farmer protests in Brussels: “Dictatorship”

Violent farmer protests are raging in Brussels, AFP reports. Around 1,000 tractors have driven into the city during the ongoing EU summit. Demonstrators have, among other things, lit fires and thrown potatoes at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons.

According to Politico, the farmers come from several EU countries, and are protesting against the free trade agreement with the Mercosur countries Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia and against the EU’s next long-term budget.

– It’s as if Europe has become a dictatorship, says dairy farmer Maime Mabille, who accuses EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of having forced the Mercosur agreement.

The EU-Mercosur free trade agreement would gradually eliminate tariffs on almost all goods traded between the blocs over the next 15 years, sparking concern and discontent among EU farmers.

EU's controversial trade deal with South America postponed

The EU's free trade agreement with the South American trade union Mercosur will not be signed on Saturday as planned, but will be postponed until mid-January. This was announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen according to Politico.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni pulled the brakes at the last minute because she wants more time to convince Italian farmers that they will not be outcompeted by cheap South American meat.

The agreement has been met with huge protests from European farmers. On Thursday, around 1,000 tractors from a number of countries, including Sweden, drove into Brussels during the ongoing EU summit. The demonstrations turned violent - among other things, farmers set fire to car tires and threw potatoes at the police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons.

If the agreement is signed, it will create the world's largest free trade area, writes AFP.