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 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.
"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.
However, 23 Member States approved the proposals outlined in the European Commission’s “The Future of Food and Farming” at the meeting. The proposals call for Member States to be able to take decisions that befit local needs, environmental objectives and to strengthen the resilience of the agricultural sector.
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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