Smoke and the sound of horns filled Brussels’ European quarter today.
Sign reading “Let’s not import what we don’t want here” in the middle of Brussels Luxembourg square, where the European Parliament is located (Pictures by Brussels Signal)
Wood coffin, representing agriculture in Europe, set on fire by farmers, and sign saying “here starts dictatorship”
Since early morning, disruption has spread across the Belgian capital as hundreds — and, according to organisers, thousands — of tractors rolled into the city.
Farmers are protesting primarily against the EU–Mercosur trade agreement currently being finalised between the European Union and a group of South American countries.
Some are throwing smoke bombs at police officers in front of the European Parliament
A portable toilet on fire
For those whose offices are near the main roads, clouds of smoke, as if from a volcanic eruption, rise outside the windows, while the irregular symphony of car horns shows no sign of stopping.
The deal would facilitate the import into Europe of products such as South American beef, sugar, rice, honey and soybeans.
Sign saying “Why bring in sugar from across the world when ours is the best? Stop Mercosur.”
Farmers and agricultural representatives from across the EU are taking part. Many have gathered around Luxembourg Square, home to the European Parliament, which must approve the agreement and related legislation before it can enter into force.
“Mercosur, dead for sure”
The most commonly heard languages in the square are French and Dutch.
“No Mercosur at the expense of our farmers”
“The signature and ratification of the EU–Mercosur Agreement would send an unequivocally wrong political signal,” said Copa-Cogeca, one of the EU’s largest farming organisations. “It risks further destabilising an already fragile agricultural sector and eroding trust in European policymaking.”
Copa-Cageca also says the “safeguards” voted Tuesday in the European Parliament “cannot correct the agreement’s structural imbalances, nor provide effective protection for sensitive agricultural sectors, while acknowledging efforts by MEPs to respond to farmers’ concerns and strengthen democratic scrutiny”.
“Brussels Signing means agriculture bleeding”
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, which as the head of the executive arm of the EU, is in charge of signing trade agreements, is set to travel to Foz do Iguacu in Brazil on Saturday to sign the deal during a Mercosur leaders summit.
“Ursula [von der Leyen, President of the Commission] do you know who we are?”
