Brussels, 1,300 tractors on the streets: fires and protests. Statue torn down in front of the EU Parliament
Belgian farmers' protest is creating access problems for heads of state and government expected for the European Council
2' min read
2' min read
The tractor protest is blocking several streets in Brussels, particularly in the vicinity of the European Quarter, where EU leaders are meeting for the extraordinary European Council.
The number of tractors in action has risen to around 1,300. This was indicated by the Brussels-Capital police, updating the count released earlier this morning, when around 1,000 vehicles had started the siege in the European quarter. More tractors are reported marching on the Belgian capital's ring road, ready to join the protest.
Meanwhile, the blockade at the port of Zeebrugge, which started on Tuesday evening, continues in the north of the country. The police cannot yet predict the duration of the action. "It will depend on the discussions at the European summit in Brussels and the conference on the future of agriculture in Ghent," the police report.
Farmers, who had come from all over Europe to protest against the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Green Deal, blocked Place de Luxembourg, in front of the European Parliament building, and set several fires with wood and tyres. Many firecracker explosions were reported.
The Belgian farmers' protest is creating some problems for the heads of state and government.
