This weakens the competitiveness of local farmers. The fact that imported products do not meet the EU's environmental standards increases pressure on European prices and increases local farmers' dissatisfaction with imports.
The European Commission has proposed an "emergency brake" to limit agricultural imports from Ukraine, focusing on the most sensitive products, such as chicken, eggs, and sugar, but producers say the quantity is still too high.
WHY IS FALLOWING LAND A PROBLEM?
Farmers also object to new EU subsidy rules, such as the requirement to leave 4% of agricultural land fallow.
French farmers criticize excessive bureaucracy, saying their government has made implementation too complicated.
DIESEL FUEL IS ALSO A REASON FOR THE PROTEST
In major agricultural producers in the EU like Germany and France, farmers have opposed plans to end subsidies or tax breaks on agricultural diesel. Greek farmers, on the other hand, want a reduction in taxes on diesel.
Paris and Berlin have succumbed to pressure and even backtracked on their plans.
IS THE FAR RIGHT EXPLOITING THE PROTESTS?
This year will see many elections worldwide. Europe is one of those places. Comments have begun to emerge suggesting that there could be a shift to the right among EU citizens following the protests.
Meanwhile, in the EU media, it is noted that far-right parties in many European countries, including France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany, are capitalizing on farmers' anger.
WILL THE PROTESTS GROW?
Climate change, water scarcity, soil erosion, and extreme weather events are causing challenges for farmers. Agriculture is important not just as an economic sector but also in terms of national security and sustainability. However, the Ukraine-Russia war jeopardizes energy supply in agricultural products. Rising energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty are affecting farmer protests more.
Conservative and far-right politicians promise to restore farmers' security and stability. However, with the geopolitical developments arising from the Ukraine-Russia war and rising energy prices, the influence of lobbyists in Brussels, and increased bureaucratic procedures, it seems that protests will not end until these issues are addressed.