Convoys of tractors disrupted traffic around the Spanish capital on Wednesday as farmers protesting against what they see as excessive red tape and insufficient state aid converged in downtown Madrid to march towards the Agriculture Ministry. Farmers have been protesting for weeks across European countries, most recently including Poland, Greece and the Czech Republic. They all call for a reduction of bureaucracy linked to the European Union’s Common Agriculture Policy and a loosening of the bloc’s environmental rules. Some farmers complained that police were preventing tractors from entering Madrid. “I have the same expenses but I’m making half as much, so we can’t go on like this,” she told Reuters, adding there was no limit to the protests until the government implemented strong measures to aid farmers.

Source: GNN Liberia February 21, 2024 18:06 UTC