2024-12-03 14:33 update: 2024-12-03, 14:37
Photo PAP/Adam Warżawa
Protests organised by Polish farmers in opposition to the European Union's Mercosur agreement, the Green Deal and recent regulations concerning animal rights, have begun on Tuesday.
Damian Murawiec, the head of the farmers' movement, told PAP that the demonstrations were intended to serve as a warning. The largest protest is taking place in the northern city of Elblag.
"If the the government fails to act towards blocking the deal with Mercosur, then all of the agricultural organisations and unions will unite to organise an protest of unparalleled scale," he said.
The Southern Common Market, commonly known as Mercosur, is a South American trade bloc established by the Treaty of Asuncion in 1991 and Protocol of Ouro Preto in 1994. The Mercosur deal is planned to liberalise custom duties in mutual trade and to develop veterinary and phytosanitary cooperation.
Murawiec added that the primary aim of the protest was to block the agreement between the European Union and South American countries. Additionally, he mentioned that the farmers were advocating for a continued fight against EU's Green Deal and were calling for a cessation of efforts to develop new regulations concerning animal rights.
On Tuesday, over 50 tractors arrived in the Elblag area. Many of the vehicles were adorned with Polish flags and banners, which featured messages claiming that Mercosur would signify "the demise of Polish agriculture" and that the European Union's agricultural commissioner's policies would lead to "the end of the Polish farmer."
Some demonstrators arrived by car. Alongside the tractors, they planned to drive through the streets of Elblag in a column, occupying only one lane and ensuring that the roads remained passable.
"We don't want to make people's lives difficult, that's why we're only going to be driving around the city - we won't block it entirely," said Murawiec. "Our aim is to raise awareness among the city's residents regarding the fact that food imported from outside the European Union is laden with chemicals - we are fighting on behalf of everyone," he added. (PAP)
mj/jch
