Europe’s foolhardy rush to erase its agricultural industry continues to be strongly opposed by those it seeks to crush — the farmers. On Thursday, farmers from several nations joined forces to express their outrage over the misguided scheme.
The European Union, through its Green Deal and other edicts to crack down on the use of chemicals in agriculture and on greenhouse gas emissions, is making growing food a near impossibility.
Part of the plan is to make agricultural imports cheaper than those produced by domestic farmers. This would crush the industry and accomplish the goal of radical leftists of destroying farming across the continent.
Farmers say they already contend with products imported from Ukraine and Latin America that drive their profits lower.
Protesters from several E.U. nations, including Germany, Poland and Slovakia, rallied at border crossings. Organizers reported that participants spanned Central Europe to the Balkans and Baltics in an impressive show of solidarity.
Hundreds of tractors blocked the Czech-Slovak border crossing known as Hodonin-Holic. The demonstrators invited agriculture ministers from the Czech Republic and Slovakia to join their rally against environmental extremism.
Thousands of farmers advance on Madrid for a major tractor protest over EU policies WPXI #SpanishNews #SpanishNews #Europe #EuropeNews [Video] Hundreds of farmers have driven their tractors into central Madrid as part of ongoing protests against European… https://t.co/7V7I9jOhVp
— Vanessa Ingraham (@VanessaEUNV) February 21, 2024
Elsewhere in the E.U., hundreds of farmers drove their tractors into the heart of Madrid Wednesday. Part of their stated purpose was for government measures to alleviate production cost hikes crippling the industry.
There were two weeks of daily protests across Spain before this week’s massive demonstration in the capital. The gathering included a rally in front of the Agriculture Ministry headquarters.
At least 500 tractors are believed to have converged onto Madrid.
Farm vehicles were emblazoned with Spanish flags along with banners proclaiming “There is no life without farming” and “Farmers in Extinction.”
One farmer told the Associated Press that getting their livelihoods from providing food for the nation is increasingly difficult. Silvia Ruiz, 46, explained “it is impossible to live from the rural industry, which is what we want, to live from our work. That is all we ask for.”
Across the continent, farmers blame E.U. policies on the environment for the majority of their burden. Both Spain and the European Commission have made concessions recently, but critics charge they are insufficient to offset the damage inflicted on the industry.
