Thousands of farmers have driven tractors into Brussels to protest a proposed trade agreement between the European Union and the South American bloc Mercosur.
The demonstrations come as Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned that Brazil would walk away from the agreement entirely if it is not finalised this month, raising the stakes for EU leaders meeting in the Belgian capital.
Farmers from across Europe gathered in Brussels on Thursday, blocking major roads with tractors and disrupting public transport as they voiced opposition to the EU–Mercosur trade deal, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The European farmers’ federation Copa-Cogeca said around 10,000 demonstrators were expected to take part.
Protesters argue that the agreement would expose European farmers to unfair competition from South American producers operating under looser environmental and labour standards, driving down prices and threatening livelihoods.
Tensions escalated near Place du Luxembourg, close to the European Parliament, where some protesters threw glass bottles and potatoes, set fire to wooden materials from their trailers and launched fireworks. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds.
Although demonstrators sought to reach the European Council building, where EU leaders are holding a summit, police barricades prevented access.
Around 150 tractors had reached Brussels by late morning, with several convoys still en route. Authorities temporarily closed major roads, amid severe disruptions on public transport services.
The protests have intensified pressure on EU leaders, who remain split over whether to proceed with the agreement.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the EU must not compromise its farmers or food producers by signing a deal that has not been finalised with sufficient safeguards.
France and Italy have both called for postponing the agreement until stronger protections for European agriculture are in place. They argue that current terms fail to guarantee fair competition and adequate environmental standards.
Germany and Spain, however, remain among the strongest supporters of the deal, saying it would boost European exports at a time of weak economic growth and help diversify trade partnerships as global competition intensifies.
Backers also see Mercosur as a strategic counterweight amid rising tariff pressures from the United States.
Adding urgency to the debate, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Wednesday that Brazil would no longer sign the agreement if it is not concluded this month.
“If we don’t do it now, Brazil won’t make this deal anymore as long as I’m president,” Lula told a cabinet meeting.
He said Brazil had already made significant concessions and warned that future negotiations would become tougher if the EU failed to act.
Italy and France said earlier they were not ready to back the agreement, dealing a blow to expectations that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would travel to Brazil to sign the deal later this week.
As farmers continue to protest in Brussels, the EU faces a narrowing window to resolve internal divisions as risk of a complete deal collapse hangs heavy.
A U.S. immigration agent shot and killed a 37-year-old woman in her car in Minneapolis on Wednesday, local and federal officials said, amid an expande...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the United States to target Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Russia’s Chechnya region, with an op...
U.S. President Donald Trump said he will stop defence contractors from paying dividends or buying back shares until weapons production speeds up, crit...
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he will meet Danish leaders next week, signalling that Washington is not retreating from President Donald Tru...
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to China later this month, marking the first visit by a Canadian leader since 2017....
A U.S. immigration agent shot and killed a 37-year-old woman in her car in Minneapolis on Wednesday, local and federal officials said, amid an expanded immigration enforcement operation ordered by President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the United States to target Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Russia’s Chechnya region, with an operation similar to the recent U.S. action that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he will stop defence contractors from paying dividends or buying back shares until weapons production speeds up, criticising the industry for delays and high costs.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he will meet Danish leaders next week, signalling that Washington is not retreating from President Donald Trump’s stated goal of acquiring Greenland, despite mounting concern among European allies.
Germany’s foreign intelligence service secretly monitored the telephone communications of former U.S. President Barack Obama for several years, including calls made aboard Air Force One, according to an investigation by the German newspaper Die Zeit.
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) sources reported a significant movement of U.S. military aircraft towards the Middle East in recent hours. Dozens of U.S. Air Force aerial refuelling tankers and heavy transport aircraft were observed heading eastwards, presumably to staging points in the region.
Diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing escalated as Japan slams China's export ban on dual-use goods. Markets have wobbled as fears grow over a potential rare earth embargo affecting global supply chains.
Iran’s chief justice has warned protesters there will be “no leniency for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic”, as rights groups reported a rising death toll during what observers describe as the country’s biggest wave of unrest in three years.
Two people have been killed after a private helicopter crashed at a recreation centre in Russia’s Perm region, Russian authorities and local media have said.
Power has been fully restored to a neighbourhood in Berlin after an arson attack triggered a blackout that lasted more than four days — the second such incident in the city since September.
A U.S. immigration agent shot and killed a 37-year-old woman in her car in Minneapolis on Wednesday, local and federal officials said, amid an expanded immigration enforcement operation ordered by President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the United States to target Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Russia’s Chechnya region, with an operation similar to the recent U.S. action that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he will stop defence contractors from paying dividends or buying back shares until weapons production speeds up, criticising the industry for delays and high costs.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he will meet Danish leaders next week, signalling that Washington is not retreating from President Donald Trump’s stated goal of acquiring Greenland, despite mounting concern among European allies.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment