Pressure from rising costs and anger over the Mercosur trade agreement have triggered a new wave of farmer protests in Germany and France, where agricultural workers have intensified their demonstrations against government policies and European Union trade arrangements.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel report on Sunday, in both countries, hundreds of farmers took to the streets, saying EU-backed trade deals and domestic regulations were threatening their livelihoods.
In Berlin, farmers drove their tractors into the heart of the capital and staged a protest in front of the historic Brandenburg Gate, blocking roads and accusing the government of ignoring the impact of soaring production costs.
The situation was even more confrontational in France, where demonstrators set fire to European Union flags and accused Brussels of undermining local agriculture.
French farmers demanded that their government withdraw from the EU altogether, insisting that the bloc’s regulatory framework and trade negotiations,particularly the proposed Mercosur agreement with South American nations,were devastating domestic producers.
The protests underscore growing discontent among European farmers who say they are being pushed to the brink by rising fuel and fertilizer costs, stringent environmental rules and competition from cheaper imports expected under future trade deals.
No immediate statement has been issued by EU officials, but the unrest highlights mounting pressure on European governments as they navigate complex negotiations on agricultural reform and international trade.