Polish farmers in the western city of Wroclaw burnt tires on the steps of the regional government office and pelted the European Commission office with eggs on Thursday, as they protested against the European Union (EU) Green Deal.
According to organizers, there were around 1,000 protesters, 500 tractors and other farm vehicles at the demonstration. Polish farmers say they are planning a total blockade of all border crossings with Ukraine and a major protest in the capital Warsaw on Feb. 20.
Meanwhile, in Rome, Italian farmers also staged a noisy protest with their cowbells to ask for the government’s help. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has pledged to reintroduce an income tax break that had been scrapped in the 2024 budget, but only for those who earn up to 10,000 Euros and farmers say this is not enough.
Farmers across Europe are protesting against constraints placed on them by EU measures to tackle climate change, as well as rising costs and what they say is unfair competition from abroad, particularly Ukraine.