From the beginning of 2024, farmers have demonstrated in almost all European countries, gaining concessions from national governments and opening up the debate at the EU level, according to an analysis by Euractiv.

The situation is evolving, and more demonstrations are expected in the coming weeks, at least until mid-March.

The map and table in this article provide a comprehensive European overview of the protests, farmers' demands, and concessions from national governments so far. The infographics are based on reports from Euractiv's Agrifood Hub and The Capitals Hub, as well as local press reports.

Some of the protesters' demands are the same across Europe. Most of them relate to specific needs.

New proposals

The debate at the EU level is focused on simplifying the administrative aspects of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the bloc, particularly on a list of nine environmental requirements (GAEC) that farmers must adhere to in order to access EU financial support.

The European Commission will present proposals by mid-March and will reopen the debate on farmers' negotiating power in the food supply chain. In January, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen launched a "strategic dialogue" on the future of EU agriculture.

The impact of trade on the agricultural sector is another concern for all farmers in the EU. The liberalization of imports from Ukraine, initially opposed in frontline countries (Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia), has become a source of criticism for producers in countries that do not border Ukraine, such as the Czech Republic and France.

In an open letter calling for the EU to "effectively respond to the historic protests of farmers," EU farmer organizations COPA and COGECA included among their demands the acceleration of ongoing legislative processes regarding genetically modified crops.

The currently discussed Industrial Emissions Directive and Packaging Waste Regulation are opposed by farmers in their current form.

At the national level

In protests in France, Spain, and Italy, the demand for fair compensation for farmers has been strong. Paris and Madrid have promised to strengthen controls in the food supply chain.

Belgium has resumed initiatives to facilitate consultation between actors in the food supply chain. In Italy, the government has reintroduced tax exemptions for farmers. Indeed, tax exemptions are one of the most common national concessions in the EU.

In Germany, demonstrations were triggered by the government's decision to remove tax exemptions on fuel and agricultural vehicles. Subsequently, Berlin backed down regarding the latter and introduced a phased-out (rather than immediate) elimination of the former.

The Irish Farmers' Association has asked the Dublin government for an exemption from the Nitrates Directive and measures to combat a plant disease known as ash dieback.