Hundreds of farmers drove tractors into central Brussels, blocking key roads around EU institutions as European leaders met to discuss the long-delayed Mercosur free trade agreement. Protesters lit fireworks, burned tyres and brought traffic to a standstill near the European Parliament.
Clashes with police escalate
As the protest intensified, farmers hurled potatoes and eggs while police responded with tear gas and water cannons. Riot police sealed off parts of the European quarter, and some European Parliament staff were evacuated due to damage caused during the clashes.
Why farmers oppose the Mercosur deal
Protesters fear the agreement would allow cheaper agricultural imports from Mercosur countries—Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia—undercutting European farmers. Key concerns include beef, sugar, rice, honey and soybeans produced under less strict environmental and pesticide regulations than those enforced in the EU.
Political divisions inside the EU
France and Italy have emerged as the strongest opponents of the deal. French President Emmanuel Macron said European farmers “cannot be sacrificed,” while Italy signalled that signing the agreement in its current form would be premature. Germany and Spain, however, are pushing for approval, arguing the deal would strengthen Europe’s global trade position.
A deal with global implications
If approved, the EU–Mercosur agreement would create one of the world’s largest free trade zones, covering around 780 million people and nearly a quarter of global GDP. Supporters say it would offer a strategic counterweight to China and the United States, while critics warn it would damage Europe’s agricultural sector and weaken environmental protections.
Protests spreading across Europe
The Brussels demonstration is part of a broader wave of farmer protests across Europe, driven by rising production costs, delayed subsidies and fears over future trade policies. Farmers from Belgium, France, Spain and Poland said they would continue protesting until their concerns are addressed.
