EU to present new proposal Thursday for derogation in response to mounting protests, says Italian media
Farmers across Europe continued Tuesday to protest the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and environmental rules.
Farmers carrying Italian flags and banners blocked motorways with their tractors in numerous locations in central and northern Italy as well as Sardinia, as reported by public broadcaster, Rai News.
In Belgium, public broadcaster VRT announced that farmers blocked roads and caused major traffic disruptions around the northern port city of Antwerp and other places.
VRT said farmers reiterated they plan to disrupt traffic all week and send a signal to the special meeting Thursday of the European Council, during which the revisions to the union's long-term budget for 2021 - 2027 would be discussed.
Moreover, Spain's La Razon news outlet revealed that major farmers' unions including ASAJA, COAG and UPA agreed to resume protests to demand “fair prices on agricultural products, stricter control of the import and less bureaucracy.”
In a related development, Italy's state-run ANSA news agency asserted that the European Commission will present a proposal Thursday for a new derogation from EU rules aimed at farmers on the minimum quotas of land to be kept fallow to have access to aid from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
