European Farmers Rally for Action, Confront Ministers and Police

Farmers across Europe staged protests in Brussels, Madrid, and Warsaw, demanding action on low food prices and unfair competition from abroad. They called for fair revenue, citing free trade agreements and deregulation as causes for their struggles. Riot police clashed with protesters in Brussels, while farmers in Madrid urged the EU to reduce bureaucracy and make changes to the Common Agriculture Policy. In Poland, farmers blocked a border crossing with Germany in solidarity against Ukrainian food exports. EU agriculture ministers met to discuss proposals to ease pressure on farmers, including reducing farm inspections and exempting small farms from some environmental standards.