Belgian farmers take to Brussels streets as EU Agriculture Ministers meet

AP Archive
(26 Mar 2024)
Belgian farmers take to Brussels streets as EU Agriculture Ministers meet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX6ZkST23q0
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brussels - 26 March 2024
1. Wide of tractors blocking street near European Council building where EU agriculture ministers will meet
2. Close of board reading (French): "let us live from our work"
3. Various of tractors
4. Various of police securing access to EU district area
5. SOUNDBITE (French) Yolin Targé, farmer from Belgium:
"We are here to remind Europe that in order to have a strong Europe, there is a need for a strong agriculture. So, we are here to remind them that their farmers should be a priority."
6. Mid of tractor
7. SOUNDBITE (French) Yolin Targé, farmer from Belgium:
"We have to deal with a lot of administrative tasks, we have to deal with a lot of environmental restrictions. We are in favor of doing our best for the environment, but still, agriculture should be a priority."
8. Pan of tractors
9. Mid of tractors
STORYLINE:
Dozens of farmers and their tractors arrived in the European quarter of Brussels early Tuesday morning ahead of the EU’s agriculture ministers meeting to discuss their concerns.

European farmers angry at red tape and competition from cheap imports from select countries have been vehemently protesting in recent weeks across the bloc.

The ministers are expected to discuss the EU Commission's latest proposals and assess the agricultural market situation.

The talks will also focus on imports from Ukraine, but no new measures are expected.

Earlier this month, the EU’s executive arm proposed to further loosen rules imposed on agriculture.

Under the proposals, the conditions to move farming to become more climate friendly were weakened or cut in areas like crop rotation, soil cover protection and tillage methods.

Small farmers will be exempt from some controls and penalties under the new rules.

It is the third time this year that Belgian farmers descended on Brussels to take part in protests, and more are scheduled ahead of European Parliament elections in June.

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