٠٠:٠٢:٥٠European farmers staged a massive protest in Brussels just days ahead of the bloc's elections, condemning 'Green Deal' reforms, cheap imports and other long-running concerns.
"Today with the rules of Europe, it is very difficult to produce food for the future, for all the people in the world," said one Belgian farmer.
"I'm here to make clear that agriculture for Europe is important and they ask very high standards for European farmers so we produce for high standards and after that, they import food from other countries," said another from the Netherlands. Many farmers are calling for a level-playing field for third countries.
Meanwhile, a farmer from Germany highlighted the burden of excessive regulations: "We have so many rules now, and we cannot handle it sometimes, more and more paperwork, and we say no."
In recent months, farmers across Europe have engaged in tractor protests and blockades of major highways, with thousands participating in countries like France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, and Greece.
Key issues driving the protests include high production costs, tax hikes, excessive regulations, fuel costs, EU-wide green policies, and cheap imports from countries like Ukraine after the EU lifted tariffs amid the conflict with Russia.
The EU has already made a number of concessions since the start of protests, including on the use of pesticides. The upcoming EU elections are scheduled for 6-9 June.
'We say no!' - European farmers rally against Green Deal, cheap imports ahead of elections
European farmers staged a massive protest in Brussels just days ahead of the bloc's elections, condemning 'Green Deal' reforms, cheap imports and other long-running concerns.
"Today with the rules of Europe, it is very difficult to produce food for the future, for all the people in the world," said one Belgian farmer.
"I'm here to make clear that agriculture for Europe is important and they ask very high standards for European farmers so we produce for high standards and after that, they import food from other countries," said another from the Netherlands. Many farmers are calling for a level-playing field for third countries.
Meanwhile, a farmer from Germany highlighted the burden of excessive regulations: "We have so many rules now, and we cannot handle it sometimes, more and more paperwork, and we say no."
In recent months, farmers across Europe have engaged in tractor protests and blockades of major highways, with thousands participating in countries like France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, and Greece.
Key issues driving the protests include high production costs, tax hikes, excessive regulations, fuel costs, EU-wide green policies, and cheap imports from countries like Ukraine after the EU lifted tariffs amid the conflict with Russia.
The EU has already made a number of concessions since the start of protests, including on the use of pesticides. The upcoming EU elections are scheduled for 6-9 June.
European farmers staged a massive protest in Brussels just days ahead of the bloc's elections, condemning 'Green Deal' reforms, cheap imports and other long-running concerns.
"Today with the rules of Europe, it is very difficult to produce food for the future, for all the people in the world," said one Belgian farmer.
"I'm here to make clear that agriculture for Europe is important and they ask very high standards for European farmers so we produce for high standards and after that, they import food from other countries," said another from the Netherlands. Many farmers are calling for a level-playing field for third countries.
Meanwhile, a farmer from Germany highlighted the burden of excessive regulations: "We have so many rules now, and we cannot handle it sometimes, more and more paperwork, and we say no."
In recent months, farmers across Europe have engaged in tractor protests and blockades of major highways, with thousands participating in countries like France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, and Greece.
Key issues driving the protests include high production costs, tax hikes, excessive regulations, fuel costs, EU-wide green policies, and cheap imports from countries like Ukraine after the EU lifted tariffs amid the conflict with Russia.
The EU has already made a number of concessions since the start of protests, including on the use of pesticides. The upcoming EU elections are scheduled for 6-9 June.