Thousands of farmers demonstrated across Europe on Wednesday. They criticize in particular the rise in fuel prices and the new regulations.
Farmers continue to mobilize across Europe this Wednesday. Numerous blockages are expected near major French cities and on major roads… The demonstrators thus wish to put pressure on the government of Gabriel Attal. Some expect a long mobilization.
“We’re preparing the barbecue. The meat is about to arrive and it’s also for warming up tonight. The cattle truck behind us will also be a place to lie down and sleep. Because we we want to sleep warm here” explains one of the demonstrators.
In Lithuania too, the protest is intensifying. More than 1,000 tractors blocked the center of Vilnius, from the Parliament to the cathedral. Like their French colleagues, Lithuanian farmers are demonstrating, among other things, against the new regulations imposed by their government, the rise in fuel prices and thus the expansion of several nature reserves…
Scientists say Lithuania has lost more than 54% of farmland birds over the past 23 years, due to intensive agriculture.
Ignas Hofmanas, President of the Lithuanian Agricultural Council, comments: “We have had enough of policies directed against agriculture. Enough of disinformation and denigration of farmers.”
The European Commissioner for Agriculture said that the EU would take into account “the voice of farmers”. Because the protest extends to many countries: from Romania to Germany, via France and Poland.
“We listen very carefully to the voice of farmers and I can declare that we will take them into account in our work, in particular for the future of the common agricultural policy” explains Janusz Wojciechowski, European Commissioner for Agriculture.
Many experts believe the protest could last for a long time. French unions threaten to block “all of Ile-de-France” from here “ten days” in the event of refusal by the government.
