Agricultural crisis: lull in Brussels after the mobilization of farmers

Laura van Lerberghe / Credits: Jean-Michel Delage / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 9:45 a.m., February 2, 2024

The thousand tractors which besieged the European Parliament on Thursday have disappeared. A superficial lull, because the unions continue to put pressure on the authorities. The agricultural crisis was not on the agenda of the extraordinary European Council but faced with the anger of European farmers, the twenty-seven took up the subject. 

“The departure from Brussels does not mark the end of the actions,” announced the Belgian Federation of Young Farmers after a meeting, considered disappointing, with the European executive. For the union, no concrete measures have been put in place. Brussels has committed to reducing the administrative burdens weighing on the sector, but European ministers will only discuss this from February 26. “The European Commission has informed us that short-term measures have been taken. A process aimed at bringing together players in the agri-food sector has been launched in order to develop the common agricultural policy,” declared Charles Michel, President of the European Council . 

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Debates still on the agenda 

Brussels also announced the postponement of the obligation to set aside 4% of its land and guarantees to limit the import of Ukrainian products in the event of a market imbalance. The second promise is considered a victory for Emmanuel Macron who has been demanding it for several weeks. But we will have to be patient to see these two proposals adopted. They should be debated at best in the summer of 2024.