Czech Farmers Take Tractors To Prague To Protest EU Farm Policies

Hundreds of tractors blocked a lane in downtown Prague in a farmer's protest on Monday over European Union agriculture policies and what they described as unfair practices, reported the Associated Press (AP).

Major organizations representing Czech farmers did not participate and distanced themselves from the rally after discovering that some organizers were involved in recent pro-Russian demonstrations. I Photo: Družstevní Asociace ČRR

Major organizations representing Czech farmers did not participate and distanced themselves from the rally after discovering that some organizers were involved in recent pro-Russian demonstrations.

The protesters planned to hand Agriculture Minister Marek Vyborny a letter outlining their demands.

They criticized the EU’s Green Deal, which calls for limits on the use of chemicals and greenhouse gas emissions, and demanded that the country withdraw from it. Some even demanded the government's resignation.

Other farmers' groups said they planned separate demonstrations on Thursday with counterparts from neighboring and other countries. Similar protests have taken place across the bloc in recent weeks.

Farmers complain that the 27-nation EU’s policies on the environment and other matters are a financial burden and make their products more expensive than non-EU imports.

The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, has made some concessions over the last few weeks, including shelving plans to halve the use of pesticides and other dangerous substances. Nonetheless, the protests have spread.

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