Farmers protesting against the EU-Mercosur agreement block several highways in Belgium

(Photo: Pixabay)

After several EU-level protests that proved fruitless, Belgian farmers took to the streets on Thursday to protest against the European Union Council’s approval of the signing of an interim trade agreement between the EU and the countries of the South American Common Market (Mercosur) – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela, whose membership has been suspended since 2016. However, the ministers responsible for agriculture of the member states authorised the European Commission on Friday, by written procedure, to sign the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and the EU-Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement (ITA).

According to information published on the Belgian police website, protesting farmers responded to the Council’s support for the agreement by blocking roads across the country

The ongoing tractor demonstration brought traffic to a standstill on several Belgian highways on Sunday. Motorists can expect congestion. The farmers, who have been protesting since Thursday night, are warming themselves by lighting fires, the news portal reported. According to the EU Council, the EU-Mercosur trade agreement aims to reduce tariffs and provide access to new markets for a wide range of goods and services. Sectors such as agriculture, the automotive industry, the pharmaceutical industry and the chemical industry will benefit from better trading conditions, it said. The agreement includes provisions to facilitate investment and remove barriers to cross-border trade in services, especially in digital and financial services. Provisions on public procurement also allow EU companies to access public procurement procedures in Mercosur countries, it said.

MTI