Farmer fury across the EU

THE recent farmer protests across Europe should be a wake-up call to all citizens of the bloc.

The French farmers are very angry at present and protest very forcibly to make their arguments for a better deal. Likewise their Dutch counterparts who caused huge traffic jams in 2019 resulting in mayhem on motorways as 2000 tractors moving at a slow pace caused major back-ups extending up to 1000kms.

The European Parliament HQ in Brussels is beseiged by Belgian farmers on a regular basis, in furious protest at apparent oppressive EU regulations and green policies that appear to target them in an unfair way.

Likewise there have been strong farmer protests in Spain, Germany, Poland and Greece in recent months. Irish farmers are much quieter by comparison, as they tend to make their feelings known by coming out to protest at night, or in the early morning hours, so as not to cause traffic congestion.

Who will be listened to first by the bigwigs in Brussels I wonder? We shall have to wait and see.

Farmers in the Netherlands are extremely angry at being told they will have to cut their beef herd numbers by 30pc, and to massively cut down on nitrogen based products.

This will have an adverse effect on their incomes, and many could be forced out of business. The greens do have a point, but so to have the farmers, and if too many are forced off the land, then food security across the EU could become a problem.

Farming is hugely important as we all have to be fed and nourished. If Europe becomes dependent on food being imported from countries around the world which are not in a secure state, then food insecurity across the

EU could become a major issue. And if more and more farmers are forced off the land across the EU, because of tough regulations being imposed upon them by Brussels threatening to reduce their incomes, we will all not be in a good place.

If that situation ever materialises we all will have much food for thought, and not enough to sustain ourselves on a daily basis. Farmers’ concerns must be taken on board by the powers-that-be at EU level.

Yours faithfully,

Tom Towey, Cloonacool, Co Sligo