Italian Farmers Persist in Protesting EU Agricultural Policies
Italian Farmers Continue Protest Against Agricultural Policies
Italian farmers have been protesting across the country, expressing their discontent with agricultural policies, particularly the EU’s “Green Deal” program, and the rising prices in the agricultural sector. The protests have taken place with both large and small demonstrations, from the north to the south of Italy.
According to reports in the Italian press, farmers in the town of Orte, near Rome, attempted to block the roads with hay bales using their tractors, but their efforts were thwarted by security forces. Similar protests with tractors also took place in towns like Melegnano near Milan, Caserta, Udine, Viterbo, and Santa Maria Capua Vetere near Naples.
In response to the protests, some farmers have indicated that they will march to the capital, Rome, from both the north and south next week to further demonstrate their opposition. Danilo Calvani, a leader of the protesting farmers, emphasized their determination to reach Rome, stating, “We will not do it like in Brussels. We have not done that before. This allows us to reach Rome.”
In light of the protests, the right-wing coalition government led by Giorgia Meloni is reportedly considering measures such as postponing or waiving certain taxes to address the price increases faced by farmers.
The discontent expressed by Italian farmers is not unique to the country, as many farmers across other EU members, including Germany, France, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, and Hungary, are also protesting against the agricultural policies implemented in recent times. Common grievances include cuts in subsidies, high energy and fertilizer costs due to the Russia-Ukraine War, and nature restoration targets.
In particular, the EU’s strict rules on the use of carbon fertilizers and pesticides within the framework of the Green Deal have been heavily criticized by farmers for making agricultural production more challenging.
With ongoing protests and mounting discontent among farmers, it remains to be seen how the EU and respective national governments will respond to address the concerns raised by the agricultural sector.
