Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen met with farmers’ representatives at the end of the EU summit promising new upcoming initiatives in a bid to douse flames after a day of protests in Brussels.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and other EU leaders,
00:05 the Belgian and Dutch Prime Ministers Alexander de Kruy and Mark Rutte, made an impromptu
00:08 meeting with farmers' unions on the sidelines of the EU Summit in Brussels.
00:15 Earlier that morning, over a thousand tractors showed up outside the European Parliament,
00:20 where angry farmers set bales of hay on fire and toppled a bronze statue.
00:27 Protesting farmers across Europe demand more income.
00:30 They're also critical of the EU's Green Deal policy to protect the planet.
00:35 We had a very constructive, a very good meeting.
00:38 We listened to the main complaints and worries and concerns of the farmers.
00:45 It's very important that we find common solutions.
00:48 We share the goals, for example, the protection of nature because we all live in nature and
00:52 with nature.
00:53 The best ambassadors for nature are the farmers themselves.
00:58 Farmers also complain about severe administrative burdens brought about by the EU's Common Agricultural
01:02 Policy.
01:03 They also complain about low prices for grain and wheat.
01:07 Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander de Kruy says the current Belgian EU presidency is
01:11 putting this issue high on the agenda.
01:15 What we see is they want to be a partner in the climate transition.
01:19 They've done a lot of efforts up to now, but obviously they're confronted with what you
01:23 could call a lasagna of measures that all come at the same time.
01:27 In addition, farmers have concerns about the EU's future trade deals with South America
01:31 in particular, which according to them, would facilitate beef imports from countries with
01:36 lower regulatory standards.
01:38 Shona Murray, Euronews, Brussels.
01:40 [Whoosh]