As the farmers’ protests spread across Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is signaling a willingness to engage in dialogue with the farmers. The head of government promised on Saturday evening that resources for agriculture from the EU-financed reconstruction plan would be increased from 5 billion euros to 8 billion euros. In this way, Meloni hopes to meet the demands of the farmers.
Large farmers’ demonstration in Rome
Rome will be the scene of a farmers’ demonstration in the next few days, modeled on those currently taking place in many European countries.
“There will be no road blockades, but there will certainly be inconveniences: we expect thousands of farmers with their tractors from all over Italy. The EU’s green policy is devastating for our sector,” emphasized the leader of the movement, Danilo Calvani, according to media reports on Sunday.
More than 100 tractors gathered on Saturday in the square in front of the Orte motorway toll booth north of Rome. Tensions erupted with police when some protesters placed huge bales of hay in the middle of the street and attempted to block traffic again: an attempt that was thwarted by a massive police presence.
Farmers feel disadvantaged
The farmers’ protests are directed against the decisions of the government in Rome and the EU because they apparently disadvantage Italian agriculture.
There are also protests against the rise in raw material prices – as well as against the approval of laboratory meat and insect meal in Europe. The farmers are not ruling out further, broader protests from the north to Rome.
“No farmers, no food, no future,” was written on one of the tractors in Orte near Rome. The demonstrators called on the Meloni government to better defend the interests of Italian farmers in Brussels. Topics include – as in Germany and France – the price of agricultural diesel, energy costs in general and the income situation of farmers.
There are also protests in South Tyrol
There are also protests in South Tyrol: the “Future Agriculture” working group has called for a farmers’ demonstration in Bolzano on February 17th. The group is supported by state parliament member Jürgen Wirth Anderlan.
2024-02-04 09:37:25
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