Demonstrations by Spanish farmers have led to the blockade of the AP-7 motorway near Pontos, approximately 40 kilometers from the French border. The protests, which began on a Monday evening, escalated after midnight, resulting in the obstruction of both directions of the motorway. The A2 motorway, connecting Madrid and Barcelona, was also targeted by the demonstrators. The actions form part of a broader series of protests against what is perceived as unfair competition from non-EU countries, according to the farmers' union Unio de Pagesos. The union highlighted that external products are not subjected to the same stringent EU standards, advocating for a reduction in bureaucratic hurdles.
The unrest is part of a wider European movement by farmers against stringent environmental regulations, the influx of low-cost imports, and diminishing incomes. Since February, there has been a notable mobilization of farmers across Spain, with significant protests occurring in Barcelona and Madrid. In Brussels, protests disrupted the European quarter, with farmers expressing their frustration through various means against the perceived excessive regulations.
Discussions between protest organizers and Spain's Agriculture Minister Luis Planas have taken place, with commitments made to address the complexities of the common agricultural policy and to push for the implementation of mirror clauses for imports.
Source: france24.com