On Thursday morning, farmers from Wallonia launched a large-scale protest by blocking various roads at the French border in opposition to the free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur countries in South America.
The protest, which began at 21:00 on Wednesday, is expected to last 24 hours, disrupting local traffic and raising concerns about the future of Belgian agriculture.
The protesters are voicing their dissatisfaction with the EU’s plans to ratify the Mercosur trade deal, which they claim will allow the importation of agricultural products from South America that do not adhere to the same high standards required within the EU.
Farmers argue that this will undermine their livelihoods, as they fear the influx of cheaper imports could damage their market share and negatively impact the environment and food safety standards.
A young farmer present at the protest told Belga News Agency, “In February, in the midst of the crisis, politicians made beautiful promises. Most of them they did not keep. Today, they are ready to vote for the Mercosur treaty.”
The demonstrator expressed frustration over what they see as broken promises by political leaders, particularly regarding the protection of local agricultural practices.
The protest has significantly impacted traffic across Wallonia, with major roads and highways being blocked in various regions.
According to the federal police’s Inforoutes website, one of the main flashpoints is the N89 road in Bouillon at the French border, where blockades have been set up in both directions, near Beaubru.
Additionally, the E19 motorway toward Valenciennes is closed at the Hautrage interchange in Hainaut, with traffic rerouted via the A16/E42 to bypass the border closure at Hensies.
In Liège province, protest activity has centered around Liège-Bierset Airport, where blockades have temporarily halted traffic.
Motorists traveling on the E40 motorway toward Brussels have been advised to exit at Eupen-Welkenraedt and re-enter the highway at Ter Baelen, as another section of the highway remains closed at Welkenraedt.
After spending the night at the airport, the farmers have announced plans to move their protest to Visé, near the Belgian border with the Netherlands, potentially causing further disruptions.
The ongoing action is part of a broader movement by Belgian farmers who have voiced their concerns about the EU-Mercosur trade deal for several months.
While the European Commission has defended the agreement, arguing it will open up important markets for EU businesses and bring economic benefits, farmers and environmental groups have strongly criticized it.
They argue that the agreement’s provisions for agricultural imports from Mercosur countries, which include Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, would lead to lower quality standards and environmental harm, particularly in relation to deforestation in the Amazon.
The protest highlights the growing divide between the political class and certain sectors of the population, particularly those who feel that their concerns are not being addressed by EU leaders.
As the blockade continues, the farmers are demanding that their voices be heard and that local agricultural practices are protected against the threats posed by international trade deals.
The outcome of this protest remains uncertain, but it is clear that tensions surrounding the EU-Mercosur agreement are far from over, with Belgian farmers determined to continue making their opposition known.
