Belgian farmers protest Mercosur and changes to CAP
Farmers from Belgium oppose a trade deal with South America and say that proposed changes to the Common Agricultural Policy would 're-nationalise' a Europe-wide policy.
Members of Belgian farm organisation FUGEA protesting in Brussels
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Belgian farmers from the FUGEA organisation took to the streets of Brussels on Monday, saying they were "under threat from free trade agreement such as the one with Mercosur, which provide for massive meat imports". Maite Defourny, from FUGEA, said that: "A trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur will come in support of an industrial model and it will contribute to low prices."
The protesters also opposed changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The protest took place as EU agricultural ministers gathered for a Farm Council meeting on the future of the CAP.
Belgian farmers were concerned that proposed changes would give member states more powers over how money is invested.
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Quand la fugea va voir le premier ministre c’est en bétaillère sur la rue de la loi pic.twitter.com/LpTXZ8BDPc
"We can not re-nationalise the common agricultural policy. It's the pillar of Europe and if tomorrow we put that pillar to bed, Europe will fall completely. It is thanks to the policy that Europe was founded," Yves Vandevoorde, from the Belgian Association of Farmers (FUGEA), told Euronews.
FUGEA members called for the promotion of quality, grass-based livestock farming as Belgium faces a meat scare following fraud investigations into a beef processor.
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Title: Belgian farmers protest Mercosur and changes to CAP
Farmers from Belgium oppose a trade deal with South America and say that proposed changes to the Common Agricultural Policy would 're-nationalise' a Europe-wide policy.
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Belgian farmers from the FUGEA organisation took to the streets of Brussels on Monday, saying they were "under threat from free trade agreement such as the one with Mercosur, which provide for massive meat imports". Maite Defourny, from FUGEA, said that: "A trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur will come in support of an industrial model and it will contribute to low prices."
The protesters also opposed changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The protest took place as EU agricultural ministers gathered for a Farm Council meeting on the future of the CAP.
Belgian farmers were concerned that proposed changes would give member states more powers over how money is invested.
Quand la fugea va voir le premier ministre c’est en bétaillère sur la rue de la loi pic.twitter.com/LpTXZ8BDPc
"We can not re-nationalise the common agricultural policy. It's the pillar of Europe and if tomorrow we put that pillar to bed, Europe will fall completely. It is thanks to the policy that Europe was founded," Yves Vandevoorde, from the Belgian Association of Farmers (FUGEA), told Euronews.
FUGEA members called for the promotion of quality, grass-based livestock farming as Belgium faces a meat scare following fraud investigations into a beef processor.
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