Devendra Kumar
Thousands of farmers converged on Poland’s capital on Tuesday, taking to the streets to voice their discontent with European Union agricultural policies and imports of cheap food from neighboring Ukraine. The protesters, mostly without their tractors, aimed to end their journey in front of the offices of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who was not present due to a meeting with his Czech counterpart in Prague. The farmers are demanding an end to the EU’s Green Deal, a plan aimed at combating climate change and protecting the environment, which they claim is too costly to implement.
The farmers believe that the EU’s policy will negatively impact their livelihoods and want the Polish government to withdraw from the Green Deal. They are also demanding that the government seal Poland’s border with Ukraine to prevent imports of grain and other food products that are forcing down prices on the domestic market. This has been a point of contention for weeks, with farmers arguing that cheap Ukrainian produce is undercutting their own earnings. Prime Minister Tusk has acknowledged farmers’ anger as justified and stated that the countries will work with Brussels to find solutions to their demands.
The protests have spread across Europe, with farmers in Italy, Spain, and Belgium, among others, voicing their discontent with EU agricultural policies. The EU’s policies have significant implications for farmers, and their concerns are likely to continue to shape the political terrain in the coming weeks. Prime Minister Tusk recognized the “negative effects” of Ukrainian produce on local farmers, while expressing Poland’s and Czechia’s commitment to helping Ukraine. The EU Commission has already made concessions to farmers, including postponing a cut in pesticide use until after the elections.
However, the underlying issues remain unresolved, and the protests are likely to continue unless the EU takes further steps to address the concerns of these crucial voters. The parliamentary elections in the 27-nation EU are approaching on June 6-9, and it remains to be seen whether the EU will take further steps to address the concerns of the farmers or if the protests will continue to grow until their demands are met. For now, the farmers’ struggle to make a living and protect their livelihoods will continue to dominate the political terrain.