Farmer reaction to EU agricultural policy

Farmers from 6 member countries of the European Union (EU) held a demonstration in Brussels, the Belgian capital, against the union’s agricultural policies and Ukrainian grain.

Called on by various farmers’ associations, some 200 farmers from Poland, Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria gathered on Schuman Square, in front of the EU institutions in Brussels.

Carrying the flags of their countries, the protesters chanted various slogans such as “No to farmers, no to food”, “No to Ukrainian grain”.

The protesters said: “Farmers must be respected”, “All farmers must receive fair conditions”, “Ukrainian grain belongs to Africa”, “Taxes and quotas must be imposed on Ukrainian agricultural and food products”, “Help to Ukraine but don’t do it.” bankrupt farmers” and “Opened up banners saying ‘Protect Farmers’.

THEY BELIEVE POLICIES ARE IMPOSSIBLE

Farmers from Ukraine countries argued that the EU Commission’s policies against market problems and disturbances facing the agricultural and food sector were insufficient.

Recalling that the EU has liberalized international trade in agricultural products with Ukraine for another year, the farmers claimed that the compensation paid to farmers in some countries was insufficient.

The protesters argued that there was a rapid drop in the prices of agricultural products, that the supply was above demand and that they had serious problems.

Stating that Central and Eastern European countries are full of Ukrainian agricultural products, the farmers expressed that different storage and trading options should be applied at this stage.

The protesters demanded the return of customs duties and quotas on agricultural and food products from Ukraine, and the extension of the regulation on temporary restrictive measures on imports from Ukraine.

THE PROCESS BEGAN AFTER THE WAR

After the start of the Russian-Ukrainian War and the impossibility of shipping from Black Sea ports for a long time, a significant amount of Ukrainian grain and food products began to be shipped overland to Central and Eastern European countries.

A large number of agricultural products from Ukraine entered the markets of the border countries Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and neighboring Czechia and Bulgaria. Relatively cheap Ukrainian grains and food products have upset growers in these countries.

Farmers in the countries of the region have long been demanding an end to cheap agricultural products from Ukraine. These countries had decided to impose a temporary ban on grain and food from Ukraine last month.

The EU Commission has also prepared a plan to address the concerns of countries banning grain imports from Ukraine, providing additional support to farmers if goods are allowed to transit, and imposing restrictions on some Ukrainian products.

The EU approved the regulation, which aims to extend the application, which removes customs duties and quotas on all products imported from the country, by 1 year to provide economic support to Ukraine last month.

EU practices towards Ukrainian grain did not satisfy farmers in 6 countries. (AA)