Germany’s agriculture is booming. Numerous farmers are protesting against the federal government’s planned austerity plans – the government has partially given in. Farmers also put pressure on politicians in other European countries. What it was about and what they ach

Since December, farmers have been demonstrating regularly in many places in Germany against the federal government’s planned austerity plans. This has now partially relented; the exemption from vehicle tax should not be eliminated. And the tax break for agricultural diesel is only to be reduced by 40 percent this year and then completely eliminated in two further steps by 2026. An initial success for the farmers, but it is not enough for them. They still want to protest next week. A week of action has been announced from January 8th .

But it’s not just Germany where agriculture is booming. Last year there were farmers’ protests in several European countries. Farmers in France and the Netherlands, but also in Poland and Romania, raised their voices – with different topics and with impact. What were they about and what successes did the farmers’ protests achieve? An overview:

Protests against EU policy in France

Just last November, farmers in France protested. With hundreds of tractors, they demonstrated against the EU agricultural policy in Paris, among other places, as the “Spiegel” reported . Farmers criticize the strict requirements and regulations and in particular the ban on certain pesticides. They particularly criticize that there are no alternatives for farmers.

Food security, which they see at risk from sometimes cheaper imports, was also a topic of the demonstrations. The protest has already had an initial impact. According to the French Ministry of Agriculture , funds for agri-environmental and climate measures (MAEC) and for conversion aid in organic farming are to be increased by 150 million euros . Some farmers’ associations such as the small farmer-oriented Confédération Paysanne (Conf’) celebrated this announcement as a victory.

Week of action from Monday: State farmers’ associations are primarily relying on traffic blockades

How right-wing extremists want to take over the farmers’ demonstrations

Environmental regulations are an issue not only in France, but also in the Netherlands and Belgium, as “Deutschlandfunk” reported. Since a ruling in 2019 against exceeding environmental pollution limits, farmers in the Netherlands have been demonstrating again and again. The ruling stated that any projects that release nitrogen must not be approved. The Dutch government aims to reduce nitrogen emissions by 50 percent by 2030, which entails a necessary reform of agricultural production to meet the new requirements. Despite the government’s ban, farmers protested in The Hague last year.

Surprising victory for protest party in the Netherlands

Dutch farmers fear that the measures will mean the end of up to 30 percent of agricultural businesses. The farmers’ protests repeatedly led to riots. Fires were set and manure was dumped on the streets. The farmers are demanding future perspectives from politicians.

A right-wing populist protest party, the Farmer Citizens Movement (BBB), was also founded , which achieved a surprisingly high number of votes in the provincial parliamentary elections in March 2023. It became the strongest force in many provinces. The party represents citizens who are not being heard, said its leader Caroline van der Plas. “They can no longer ignore us.” Passing laws on climate protection and agricultural reform could therefore be difficult.

Poland’s farmers block Ukraine imports

Farmers also protested in Poland last summer. They blocked the border crossing with Ukraine. With the campaign, farmers countered the collapse in the price of products from Poland, which was caused by cheap grain imports from Ukraine. After Russia’s attack on Ukraine, grain was exported from the country via third countries such as Poland and Romania, as Russia blocks previous trade routes.

The Ukrainian grain also reached the Polish market, which caused prices there to fall. As a result, the farmers called for a ban on the import of Ukrainian grain and other foodstuffs – with success. In October 2023, a grain agreement was also concluded between Poland and Ukraine, according to which grain from war-torn Ukraine will now be transported to other countries via Lithuania in order to protect Polish markets, the agricultural magazine “Agrarheute ” reported.

Minister Robert Habeck on the blockade in Schlüttsiel: We must counter coercion and violence

Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) was harassed by angry farmers and other protesters at the Schlüttsiel ferry pier (Nordfriesland district). 

There were also strikes in Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary due to the fall in the price of Ukrainian grain. The farmers demanded additional help from the EU. Like Poland, the countries banned transit from Ukraine.

Nationwide farmers’ protestsConcern about radicalization is growing

January 8, 2024 4:05

The farmers’ association is calling for nationwide demonstrations starting today – and calling for peaceful actions. But there is growing concern in politics that the protests could be infiltrated by radical groups.

Farmers’ actions have been announced nationwide – protest trips with tractors, rallies, large gatherings. Motorway entrances should also be blocked.

Farmers are angry about the federal government’s austerity plans. The traffic light coalition has already rowed back. She no longer wants to cut funding as much as originally planned. But that is not enough for the farmers.

Farmers’ association calls attacks “no-go”

After an angry crowd in Schleswig-Holstein prevented Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) from leaving a ferry on Thursday, fears are growing that the protests could escalate.

The German Farmers’ Association, which is leading the actions, is explicitly calling for peaceful protests. President Joachim Rukwied emphasizes: “We have made a clear statement about this and have distanced ourselves from it in the strongest possible terms. Personal attacks, threats, etc. – that is a no-go.”

Concern about instrumentalizing the protests

But politicians from various parties fear that the farmers’ actions could be abused by extreme groups. For example, Dirk Wiese, deputy leader of the SPD parliamentary group, says: “We can already see that attempts are being made to exploit the protests, especially in right-wing circles and especially from the AfD milieu. We are seeing this right now in Thuringia. We see “That in Saxony. We also see that in other places.”

However, Wiese also assumes that the majority of farmers will demonstrate non-violently. “Peaceful protest for one’s interests is absolutely legitimate,” he says.

Lindner: “You’ve lost your way!”

At the Epiphany meeting of the Liberals, FDP leader Christian Lindner warned against radicalization and appealed to farmers not to allow themselves to be infiltrated: “You have lost your way! Please turn back!”

After the incidents at the ferry pier on the North Sea, the opposition Union is also calling for moderation. Nevertheless, CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt shows understanding for the farmers’ anger: “Yes, we support these protests, but they have to take place on the basis of the rule of law. And I hope that such derailments like the ones we saw remain an absolute exception. “

Ampel sees no further scope

Meanwhile, representatives of the traffic light coalition make it clear: Beyond the announced reversals of the planned cuts, they see no further scope. “No, because it would have to be counter-financed,” said Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) on ZDF. “I mean, every household has to be covered, and we have now covered it. And I now advise everyone to take a look at it calmly and evaluate it objectively and then you will notice that we are acting very fairly here.”

In addition to the traffic disruptions on the roads caused by farmers, problems are also expected with rail transport in the next few days. The train drivers’ union GDL is calling on its members to strike – from Wednesday night to Friday evening. There will be a strike in freight transport from Tuesday evening.