New actions by farmers are expected this Wednesday in the capital.
Several dozen farmers’ tractors from unions defending “sustainable agriculture” are announced on Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. in the European district in Brussels. They are protesting against a possible upcoming signing of the trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia), very controversial in its agricultural aspect. The police also anticipate major traffic disruptions in the capital.
All day (from 5 a.m.), rue de la Loi (between Schuman and R20) and the Reyers tunnel coming from the E40 towards the center will be closed. The surrounding streets of Rue de la Loi and the European Quarter could also experience traffic disruptions.
Supporter of this agreement, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez cited the G20 summit, November 18 and 19 in Rio de Janeiro, and the Mercosur summit, December 5 to 7, as “key dates” for a signature. In France, where opposition to Mercosur focuses, as in Wallonia, on the agricultural aspect of the agreement, the Minister of Agriculture Annie Genevard said this Sunday that she was convinced that the agreement would not be signed at the summit. of the G20.
Paris is trying to form a blocking minority in the EU Council, where the Ministers of Agriculture of the Twenty-seven sit. To achieve this, France needs at least three countries which represent 35% of the European population. “For the moment Austria, the Netherlands and Ireland seem to want to work with the French to prevent the signing of the agreement. Belgium must join this group“, urged MEP MR Benoît Cassart (Renew Europe) recently.
Belgium has not taken a position. In Wallonia, all parties announced their opposition to the agreement “as it stands”, and the need to include mirror clauses, in order to establish production standards as high as in the EU. PS, Ecolo and PTB (opposition) certainly want to go further than the MR and Committed majority in the benchmarks to be set, but all denounce unfair competition with Mercosur products.
The cause, depending on the varying emphasis placed by the parties, is the non-compliance with European environmental standards (use of pesticides and chemicals banned in Europe), social standards, or human rights. But the possibility of Belgium avoiding abstention in the Council is low, given the N-VA’s support for free trade agreements, tools for prosperity for the port of Antwerp.
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