Today, the Czech Agrarian Chamber issued a rallying cry as farmers’ organizations from Central and Eastern Europe have urged farmers to join in widespread protests against the European Union’s agricultural policy reforms. With major demonstrations slated for February 22nd, farmers are gearing up to voice their opposition to the EU’s ambitious Green Deal for Europe, which aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

The discontent among farmers has been palpable in recent times, with protests erupting across numerous European countries in opposition to what they perceive as the adverse effects of the EU’s agricultural policies. Rising costs and concerns over unfair competition from foreign markets have fueled frustration among farmers, prompting them to take to the streets in protest.

In an effort to address these grievances, farmers’ organizations have engaged in extensive discussions over the past two days with European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski in Otrebusy, near Warsaw. Representatives from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia have united to present their demands to Commissioner Wojciechowski.

These demands encompass a range of issues, including compensation for farmers grappling with the implementation of new environmental regulations, relief from administrative burdens, transparency in subsidy systems, and improved regulation of Ukrainian agricultural imports into the EU market. Additionally, farmers’ groups have called for coordinated protest rides to border crossings, where they intend to unite with their counterparts from neighboring countries.

The Czech Agrarian Chamber has issued a stark warning, emphasizing that unless the European Commission offers concrete solutions to address these grievances, border protests will persist. The Chamber stresses the importance of meaningful dialogue and action to address the challenges facing agriculture within the EU.

As tensions escalate, the unified mobilization of Central and Eastern European farmers underscores the urgency for policymakers to listen to their concerns and work towards solutions that safeguard the interests of farmers while advancing the goals of agricultural sustainability.

Article by Prague Forum