Agricultural protests have been spreading across Belgium since yesterday. Tractors block highways, ring roads and access roads to key ports. The Prime Minister of Belgium is scheduled to talk to protesters this evening.
Yesterday, Belgian farmers drove their tractors in front of the EU Parliament building in Brussels and blocked traffic on highways in the south of the country. Today, columns of tractors also blocked the E19 highway near the border with the Netherlands, as well as access roads to the cities of Antwerp and Ghent. Farmers also threatened to block the Zeebrugge container port – the second largest on the North Sea – reports Reuters.
Belgian farmers are protesting against the rising costs of living and production, the European Union’s climate policy and excessive imports of cheap food. Protests in various forms have been taking place across the country today, and agricultural unions have announced that no blockades will last at least until the end of the week.
Today, the Walloon Minister of the Environment, Céline Tellier, representing the Green Party, came to the farmers protesting in Namur. Her answers only enraged the farmers. The booed politician withdrew in a hurry under police escort, reports the Belgian portal vrt.be.
Another large protest is planned for Thursday, February 1 in Brussels, which will coincide with the European Council meeting. Demonstrations in Antwerp and Ghent are also likely tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.
As farmers threatened a 36-hour blockade of roads leading to the port of Zeebrugge, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo invited trade unions to talks this evening, Belgian media report. So far, the demonstrations have been peaceful.
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