While farmers’ protests in France have subsided somewhat following concessions from the government in Paris, Italian farmers are now increasing pressure on their political representatives. Farmers from all over the country want to besiege the capital Rome. A large demonstration is planned for Friday.
The first tractors have already arrived in the outskirts of Rome. Farmers from agricultural areas such as Tuscany and Emilia Romagna marched south to the capital carrying the Italian flag and handwritten signs with slogans such as “No farmer, no food.” Italian farmers share many of the complaints of their colleagues elsewhere in Europe.
The country’s main trade union is not involved
They complain about competition from cheaper imports from areas outside the European Union, such as North Africa, and complain that fuel costs are rising and that EU measures to protect the environment and combat climate change are having a negative impact on their activities. Farmers are also pushing for the reinstatement of a 2017 tax break that the government scrapped in the 2024 budget law.
The farmers’ protests in Italy are being led by a number of individual groups and are not organized by Italy’s main agricultural association, Coldiretti, which has close ties to the government.
Meloni: “Always have an open ear for employees”
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stressed that Italy has done more than some of its EU neighbors to support its farmers. “Of course there is always room for improvement and I am always open to employee demands, which are important to us,” she said. Fuel subsidies for farmers must also be maintained.
The Greens call on the European Commission to take action
In view of the European protests, the Greens have now called on the European Commission to take action. In addition to an end to negotiations on an EU-Mercosur agreement, the Green party leadership is calling for an investigation into the market power of large agricultural companies. This is evident from an open letter to the Brussels authorities, which was also signed by Austrian MEP Thomas Waitz.
Source: Krone
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