From Berlin to Paris, why farmers’ anger continues to spread across the European Union

Demonstration of angry farmers in Berlin on January 15. MAXPPP – IMAGO/Florian Gaertner

Manifestation d’agriculteurs en colère, à Berlin, le 15 janvier dernier. MAXPPP – IMAGO/Florian Gaertner

Après l’Allemagne, le mouvement s’est propagé des Pays-Bas à la France, en passant par la Roumanie, ou la Pologne. Il touche désormais l’Espagne, l’Italie et la Belgique. Explications.

When, this Tuesday, the three main Spanish agricultural unions announced that they were joining the movement of angry farmers, it seemed definitively established that this wave of protests was now affecting the whole of Europe.

And no one was surprised when the European Commission, this Wednesday at midday, announced its first measures (on fallow land and Ukraine) to try, if not to contain, but at least to contain to appease the inexorable advance of these manifestations of exasperation. Before they become long-term, or take a more muscular turn.

Massive mobilizations in Germany

It was from Germany that the first images of massive mobilizations arrived, in Berlin in particular, in mid-January. In Romania, Poland, or the Netherlands, but also in Hungary or Bulgaria, discontent gained ground, before the west of Europe was affected, mainly in France, Italy, then in Belgium and now, therefore, in Spain.

Growing precariousness

Everywhere, farmers deplore growing insecurity and insufficient, even unworthy, income. And if the reasons for discontent vary depending on the country (in Germany, everything started with the gradual elimination of a tax advantage on diesel), European farmers as a whole stigmatize the increase in production costs, the commercial repercussions of the conflict in Ukraine, but also what they consider to be an overdose and an inflation of environmental standards decreed from Brussels.

All with the European elections looming on the horizon (from June 6 to 9 in the 27 member states). And against a backdrop of devastating climatic events, from summer drought (which continues in certain regions) to this winter's floods.

"We're walking on our heads"

Nothing that surprises in any case the former socialist MEP (for eleven years) Éric Andrieu:"I never stopped saying that European policies were not up to the challenge" regretted Audois, specialist in agricultural issues: "When the demonstrators say “We're walking on our heads”, that's exactly it. Normally, we start by setting objectives before putting in place the means and tools to be able to achieve them. There, we did the opposite. We first voted on the means, with the European budget, then we took care of the tool, the CAP, and finally we set the objective: the Green Deal. It couldn't work…"

As for the measures adopted today, Éric Andrieu considers that "it will help, but it’s only in the short term. But it had to be done. Because there is fire there, literally."

"Putting agriculture back to the top of the pile"

A positive point in this movement ? Hérault resident Irène Tolleret, European MP and winemaker, in Fontanès, in Hérault, sees one: "This movement allows us to realize that being an agricultural power, in France and in Europe, is a source of pride. And, frankly, putting agriculture back on the top of the pile suits me very well!"

And while waiting to know if Wednesday's announcements would help calm the rebellion, several actions were being considered at the European level. This Wednesday, French and Belgian farmers blocked a large part of the border between the two countries this Wednesday, reported La Voix du Nord.

And demonstrations are announced for this Thursday in front of the European Parliament in Brussels, where an extraordinary European council will be held.

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