NewsPoliticsTop StoryWorld

Massive farmers protest stops Brussels traffic

Farmers from Belgium’s northern region of Flanders drove thousands of tractors into Brussels on Friday in a protest against a new regional government plan to limit nitrogen emissions. Police estimated the number of tractors clogging the streets of Brussels at 2,700. Many were decorated with big signs reflecting the farmers’ anger. The Associated Press has the story:

Massive farmers protest stops Brussels traffic

Newslooks- BRUSSELS (AP)

Hundreds of tractors driven by angry farmers protesting a plan to cut nitrate levels converged on Brussels on Friday, creating major traffic disruption in Belgium’s capital city.

The BB farmers union and several others combined efforts to gather more than 2,700 farm vehicles, according to Brussels police.

Farmers with their tractors sit on the street as they block traffic on a road leading into the center of Brussels, during a demonstration, Friday, March 3, 2023. Hundreds of tractors driven by angry farmers protesting a plan to cut nitrate levels drove into Belgium’s capital city on Friday causing major traffic disruption. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Several major roads in Brussels were closed and police warned that disruptions could last until the end of the day, recommending that people use public transportation instead of personal cars.

The Flemish regional government is struggling to find a deal to cut nitrate pollution over farmers’ objections that it would put many out of business.

Farmers also claim that their trade has to make much deeper cuts than industry and want to see a more equitable spread.

Pedestrians cross a street as farmers with their tractors block traffic on a main boulevard in the center of Brussels, during a demonstration, Friday, March 3, 2023. Hundreds of tractors driven by angry farmers protesting a plan to cut nitrate levels drove into Belgium’s capital city on Friday causing major traffic disruption. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

“In the future, I want to have the possibility to continue my dad’s farm,” said farmer Brendt Beyens. “But right now I feel like the possibility of that happening is slowly shrinking and it’s getting nearly impossible and the is future looking very tough.”

Negotiations have lingered for weeks and weakened the regional government of northern Belgium to breaking point.

Farmers with tractors drive in a column toward the center of Brussels, during a demonstration, Friday, March 3, 2023. Hundreds of tractors driven by angry farmers protesting a plan to cut nitrate levels drove into Belgium’s capital city on Friday causing major traffic disruption. Sign reads “Who chokes the farmer, will have nothing to eat”. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

The debate over agricultural pollution is increasingly turning into a political issue in many of the EU’s farming nations. It is to be a focal point of Dutch elections in two weeks’ time and is also affecting Belgium, another EU nation where intensive farming has put environmentalists against the agricultural lobby.

Farmers with tractors drive in a column toward the center of Brussels, during a demonstration, Friday, March 3, 2023. Hundreds of tractors driven by angry farmers protesting a plan to cut nitrate levels drove into Belgium’s capital city on Friday causing major traffic disruption. Sign reads “Who chokes the farmer, will have nothing to eat”. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Read more international news

Previous Article
Big Ten: Edey, Purdue outlast Wisconsin 63-61
Next Article
Quad FMs met in Delhi, wary of China’s might

How useful was this article?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this article.

Latest News

Menu