Protesting farmers have returned to spreading manure in Brussels – for the third time, on 26 March 2024 – under the aegis of the Belgian association FUGEA and the European Coordination of La Via Campesina (ECVC). (1) #CleanSpades.
1) Farmers protesting against agro-industrial oligarchies
The ‘mainstream media’ continues the disinformation, claiming that the farmers’ mobilisations are linked to the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy and the proposal to reduce the use of the most dangerous chemicals.
The European Commission has only acted on the demands of the large agricultural confederations, such as Coldiretti and Copa-Cogeca, at the exclusive service of the agro-industrial oligarchies and agrochemical giants (2,3,4).
European Coordination de La Via Campesina therefore reaffirms the real reasons of the farmers protesting under the police water cannons, which have nothing to do with the performances of Coldiretti officials disguised as ‘Minions’.
2) European Coordination Via Campesina, the reasons for the protest
‘We demand an adequate answer to our key demands, centred on fair incomes and prices for farmers and farm workers::
A) put an end to free trade agreements and unfair competition, starting from the interruption of negotiations on the EU-Mercosur agreement (4,5)
B) strengthen the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive to legally guarantee pricesabove our production costs. (6)
C) regulate markets through the CAP to guarantee fair and stable prices safe from speculation
D) ensure a sufficient budget andfair distribution of the CAP to enable a sustainable transition towardsagroecology and sustainable practices
E) reduce theadministrative burden for farmers, but not with measures that do not respond to current environmental and climate challenges‘ (European Coordination Via Campesina, 26.3.24).
3) Dignity, not alms
‘Recent proposals of the European Commission, which will be discussed at the AGRIFISH meeting, are insufficient to address the root causes that have motivated farmers’ demonstrations across Europe for months.
The priority is to maintain and establish as many farms as possible, while supporting more sustainable models. Therefore, we need remunerative prices and support commensurate with our efforts.
European policies, and in particular the CAP, must therefore be able to regulate markets and support the transition‘ (European Coordination Via Campesina, 26.3.24).
4) Eurocrats indifferent to the demands of the peasants
‘Our requests were repeated during our first actions, but also in the ECVC and FUGEA meetings with
– the president of the AGRIFISH Council, David Clarinval
– Charles Michel’s cabinet and the Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski
– and will also be repeated to Mrs von der Leyen, in April.
That is why we came back on Tuesday 26 March. We are joined by allied organizations, NGOs and workers’ unions who have strongly supported us in our mobilizations and demands‘ (European Coordination Via Campesina, 26.3.24).
5) Revolution
The democratic revolution is necessary and must involve all citizens, unless we want to resign ourselves to the definitive end of family and peasant farms on which 70% of the food produced on the planet still depends.
We want our food local , good and fair, non-GMO. Short and fair supply chain, respecting nature and biodiversity, the health of those who produce it and those who consume it. (7) The antithesis of the globalised agro-industrial model.
Let’s all take to the streets, as well as share our values on social networks. And let us exercise our right to vote, demand ballots for the European elections, as well as the municipal elections, on 6-9 June 2024.
#PeaceLandDignity! Against the system of oligarchies, against the war economy. Our program, for everyone’s rights, in note 8 below.
Dario Dongo
Footnotes
(1) Dario Dongo. Farmers, the protest reaches Belgium. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 30.1.24
(2) Dario Dongo. Protesting farmers, pesticides instead of #fairprice. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 7.2.24
(3) Dario Dongo. Farmers in protest, the viral deception of Coldiretti & Co. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 5.2.24
(4) Dario Dongo. Unfair competition, yet another mockery of farmers in the EU. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 24.3.24
(5) MEPs serving agrofinance, meanwhile, have approved new free trade agreements without reciprocity clauses. See the previous article by Dario Dongo. Green light for EU agreements with Chile and Kenya. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 28.2.24
(6) Dario Dongo. #FarmersUnited, the manifesto 2 March 2024. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 27.2.24
(7) Dario Dongo. Fshort chain, concepts and values. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 27.9.19
(8) Dario Dongo. Peace, Land and Dignity. Our movement in the 2024 European elections. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 14.3.24
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
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