Protesting Farmers Converge at EU Summit in Brussels

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Facts

  • On Thursday, protesting farmers — angry over rising costs, climate change rules, and red tape — drove their tractors to EU headquarters in Brussels during an EU summit. They reportedly threw firecrackers and eggs at police during their demonstration.1
  • The farmers arrived in groups overnight, entering Brussels early in the morning in freezing temperatures, culminating their weeks-long protest.2
  • On their way to Brussels's Luxembourg Square, some wrote 'Ursula, we are here!' along the Paris-Brussels motorway — a reference to European Commission Pres. Ursula von der Leyen. The hundreds of farmers in their tractors were asking for imports to be regulated the same as European-grown agriculture, as well as the simplification of agricultural and environmental regulations.3
  • In response to the protest — which included failed attempts to tear down barriers outside the European Parliament — Parliament Pres. Roberta Metsola said we 'hear you' and 'see you.' Von der Leyen and Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo also said they would meet with the European farmers' lobby COPA-COGECA.4
  • The European Commission has also proposed limiting agricultural exports from Ukraine and loosening environmental regulations on fallow land. However, as the protests have continued, blocked roads have led to some supply chain issues. In France, for example, one transportation and logistics executive said delays have cost transportation and logistics firms 30% of revenue over the past 10 days.4
  • France, Belgium, Italy, and other nations have witnessed rural uprisings in recent weeks. French police arrested 91 farmers in Paris on Wednesday after protesters drove into Europe’s biggest wholesale food market.5

Sources: 1Associated Press, 2Express.co.uk, 3Euronews, 4Reuters.com and 5Evening Standard.

Narratives

  • Progressive narrative, as provided by Guardian. Folding in the face of angry and violent farmers shows a lack of political will on the part of European politicians. Fearing the far right's alarming rise across Europe, incumbent leaders have shown no inclination to take substantial steps to reasonably inform the farmers, let alone tackle their aggression. This is hypocrisy at its finest, and a serious threat to the environment.
  • Conservative narrative, as provided by Europeanconservative. The EU has done anything but cave to the demands of these farmers. The protesters driving their tractors across Europe are still angry because their leaders are pushing ludicrous policies, like banning the use of fertilizer and forcing land to go fallow. These policies aren't about saving the environment but rather introducing a Soviet-style system of control over the people who ensure food is on the table.

Predictions