In a report published by Reuters, Belgian farmers frustrated with rising costs, EU environmental policies, and poor food imports, the farmers blocked road access to the Zeebrugge container port Tuesday for 36 hours.
The reason the port was targeted is because the farmers feel that the port receives economic aid at the expense of farmers. The protesters blocked five roads to trucks, but they did allow cars to pass through. This is following another recent report that hundreds of companies plan to unveil their environmental impact in future reports.
Speaking with reporters an unnamed port authority spokesperson stated it wasn't clear what the consequences of the operations of the port would be and that the port was indirectly in touch with organizers through the police. In addition, The Algemeen Boerensyndicaat Union (ABS, General Farmers Syndicate) called upon its members to join the protest as well. ABS Policy Officer, Mark Wulfrancke, stated "The farmers are desperate, really desperate. We've warned the government for years that this would happen".
Wulftancke has also urged policymakers to ensure that food prices reflect the additional costs European farmers currently face as a result of Europe's inclining environmental standards. In another statement, he said, "We want respect from our government, the European government. The only way to show that respect is to make a policy that is farmer friendly, food friendly. We need a correct price."
In response to this incident among others, Prime Minister, Alexander De Coo is planning to meet with farmers on Tuesday stating to reporters "It is important that they are listened to". Meanwhile, a group of farmers have blocked a square in central Brussels with their tractors and plan to stay there until Thursday.
In a statement farmer Nicolas Fryers stated "We are asking them to review their laws. They talk about being greener but if that happens then there will be land which isn't worked any more and it's difficult enough as it is."
