Belgian Farmers Block Roads To Zeebrugge Port Over Rising Costs And EU Policies

Belgian farmers are angry about the rising costs, the EU’s environmental policies, and the cheap food imports plan. On Tuesday, they blocked access roads to the Zeebrugge container port. Farmers organizing the protest informed Reuters that they planned to bar access to North Sea’s port, the country’s second-largest, for 36 hours at least. They added that the port was targeted as they feel it receives economic aid at the farmers’ expense.

A port authority spokesman mentioned that the protesters blocked five roads to trucks but had been letting cars pass through. He also said it was unclear what the effects on the port operations would be, and the port was indirectly in touch with the organizers via the police.

The Algemeen Boerensyndicaat union has called on the members to participate in the protest. Wulfrancke reportedly urged the policymakers to ensure that the food prices reflect additional costs European farmers encounter for complying with Europe’s evolving environmental standards.

They want respect from the government, the European government. The only possible way to show it is by drafting a farmer- and food-friendly policy. They demand a correct price, he informed Reuters. The ongoing Belgian protest movement was boosted by similar actions in France, where the farmers have been taking part in dozens of roadblocks, disrupting traffic around Paris, and putting the French government under pressure.

On Tuesday, the Belgian farmers disrupted traffic during the typical morning rush hour. One of the blockades was near the Dutch border, precisely on the E19 highway. PM Alexander De Croo will meet the farmers’ associations soon as he thinks it is essential to listen to them, De Croo informed reporters.

He added that Belgium, which is currently holding the six-month presidency of the Council of the EU, will discuss several European agricultural rules with the European Commission. A host of farmers also blocked a square in central Brussels with their tractors and said they would continue to stay put until Thursday, at least when the EU government leaders eventually meet.

The farmers are appealing for the laws to be reviewed, explained Nicolas Fryers, a farmer participating in the protest. He added that there are talks about being greener, however, if that happens there will be land that is not worked anymore and it is hard enough as it is.

The European Commission was understood to be poised to extend some policy iterations in response by placing a proposal for exemption on Thursday on the rules needing farmers to leave part of the land fallow if they file for the EU subsidies. The regulations on fallow land were also part of the farmers’ grievances that resulted in protests in France and other places in recent weeks.

Reference: Reuters

Belgian Farmers Block Roads To Zeebrugge Port Over Rising Costs And EU Policies appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News