Farmers in Romania, France, and Germany Continue Road Convoy Protests
ICARO Media Group
Farmers in Romania, Germany, and France are rallying together to protest against green policies and taxes that they claim are eating into their profits. The ongoing demonstrations ahead of the EU elections in June have seen agricultural workers demanding more government subsidies to offset the impacts of environmental reforms.
In Romania, farmers and truckers have been blocking main roads with their tractors and trucks for over a week. Their demands include lower taxes, fairer subsidies, and reduced insurance costs for heavy machinery. Despite failed talks with the government thus far, the farmers remain steadfast in their protest.
Meanwhile, in Berlin, German farmers have joined forces with eco-activists to highlight their need for subsidies or fair prices for their environmentally friendly, genetically unmodified farming practices. The farmers maintain that while they support sustainable agriculture, government implementation of such measures has been lacking, even after submitting their demands to Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir. The protests began in December when the federal government cancelled long-standing farming subsidies and benefits, potentially saving farmers over 480 million euros. However, the government later softened these plans by making the benefit cuts gradual.
In southern France, mass protests have prompted the government to address the concerns of farmers. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal is set to meet with the president of the National Federation of Agricultural Operators' Unions (FNSEA) on Monday to discuss their demands. Farmers had threatened to block certain motorways until their pleas were heard. The FNSEA will decide next week whether to escalate the protests with nation-wide action.
As the protests continue, farmers across Romania, Germany, and France emphasize their crucial role in feeding the population while expressing the urgent need for government support to ensure their viability in the face of environmental reforms.