Brussels today : new farmer's mobilization
Source : https://www.lesoir.be/576903/article/2024-03-26/manifestation-des-agriculteurs-tensions-entre-les-manifestants-et-la-police-un
A new mobilization of farmers began this Tuesday in Brussels, on the sidelines of the European Council of Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries. This is the third demonstration by angry farmers in the capital since the start of the year, after those of February 1 and February 26.
Tensions between farmers, police and journalists
Confrontations between farmers and the police were intense on Tuesday midday, around rue de la Loi and the Schuman roundabout. These clashes led to tensions within the demonstration itself, between participants and journalists, who were attacked with eggs and firecrackers being thrown at them. One of them was even hit.
Many farmers did not hide their concern about the large presence of journalists, photographers and cameramen during the demonstration. According to them, a plainclothes police officer posed as a journalist or photographer. From the first hours of the protest, demonstrators attempted to cover the cameras and members of the press were pelted with eggs, fireworks and firecrackers.
A journalist who wanted to photograph the farmers was also hit in the face during the demonstration. However, no arrests took place, the police remaining behind and mainly using water cannons and tear gas to keep the demonstrators at bay and calm the spirits.
Some demonstrators also seemed to fear being prosecuted later based on videos. On Monday, the Brussels public prosecutor's office announced that three farmers suspected of having committed acts of violence against the police during a previous demonstration in Brussels at the end of February were identified using video images. One of them has already been interviewed by the police and then released. The other two will soon be summoned to be heard.
The police remain present in large numbers around rue de la Loi, in particular, in order to monitor the situation and extinguish any further tension around the demonstration.
“We are waiting for Europe to go back”
At least 250 tractors block Rue de la Loi on Tuesday as part of a third farmers' demonstration, at the initiative of the Belgian federation Fugea and the European coordination Via Campesina (ECVC). The demonstrators denounce insufficient European proposals, particularly concerning free trade agreements and market prices.
On a stage set up in front of the fresco “The Future is Europe”, representatives of agricultural federations discussed their requests to the European Union. “Our main demand is that the establishment of agricultural prices be fairer. And this basis is done at the global level, it is the European Union which can put pressure on it,” explains Hugues Falys, spokesperson for Fugea. “We are waiting for Europe to reverse its ultra-liberal policy. Recent decisions on environmental regulations are absolutely not the expected answers,” he adds. “Agricultural prices should not fall below production costs,” adds Leonardo van den Berg, Dutch farmer and ECVC representative. “Current prices are putting pressure on farms that can no longer keep up.”
The European federations present in Brussels want the EU to regulate markets via the CAP in order to ensure fairer prices for farmers. “The issue is really agricultural prices, totally liberalized, and which put us in competition with countries which do not have at all the same standards, the same costs and production conditions…”, supports the representative of the Fugea. “We must protect farmers from the speculation which is currently undermining the market,” adds Mr Van den Berg.
Free trade agreements, notably that of Mercosur, still under negotiation, are also called into question. “These force us to compete with countries that do not have the same conditions and standards as us,” believes Mr. Falys. “We are not against international agreements per se. However, there must be clear conditions and standards, similar to what is in place in Europe,” confides his Dutch counterpart. “Above all, the EU must place greater emphasis on local production and consumption.”
The demonstrators finally call for a reduction in the administrative burden and a better distribution of CAP subsidies, in particular to promote the transition.
La Fugea also says it is confident in the ongoing discussions with regional and federal authorities, particularly around reducing the administrative burden. “They understood there was a problem. We are confident that solutions will be found,” hopes Mr. Falys.