European farmers’ dissatisfaction with the European Union’s climate change policies could have an impact on the 2024 European Parliament elections, experts say.
The election begins on June 6 and ends on Sunday. In a recent interview with NPR, an agricultural policy expert explained that recent protests by European farmers could have an impact over the weekend.
Alan Matthews, a former professor of European agricultural policy at Trinity College Dublin, said farmers’ discontent stemmed from the EU’s expectation of them to be “part ecologist, part conservationist”.
“Farmers need to know what their impact is on greenhouse gas emissions, so there are a number of additional obligations, requirements that we are asking of farmers,” he acknowledged.
Spanish and French farmers impose border closures ahead of EU elections
European farmers’ dissatisfaction with climate policy could have an impact on the ongoing European Parliament elections. (iStock/Getty Images)
“Instead of youth protests, we’re seeing farmer protests ahead of the European elections,” Matthews added. “I think the protests themselves could have a similar effect.” [as the youth protests did]”
In an interview with NPR, German farmer Anthony Lee accused the European Greens of “trying to eliminate small-scale agriculture.”
“They’re saying the opposite,” Lee says. “The first ones to go bankrupt are the small farmers, because they can’t cope with the system.”
Mr Lee, who is running in the current election, has accused European politicians of exerting too much control over farm operations, in part because bureaucrats regularly inspect farms.
Polish farmers march in Warsaw against European Union climate policy
Farmers protest in front of the Parliament of the Republic of Poland in Warsaw, Poland, May 10, 2024. (Claudia Radekka/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“Every three days, a satellite flies over our land, over our fields,” Lee told NPR, “and every farmer has to download an app, and they send us a push message saying, ‘Something’s wrong with your field these past few days. Take a picture and send it to us.’ It’s gotten so crazy now.”
“If satellite imagery shows you or the government that something is wrong — even if you say you’re growing wheat; [instead] “When you grow corn, it automatically sends a message that something is wrong,” he explained. “Or, you put in fertilizer. [at] We’re talking about no plowing at certain times, or when you plough a field – or, frankly, no plowing.”
Last month, tens of thousands of Polish farmers marched in Warsaw against EU climate change policies.
“We are protesting because we don’t want to be slaves on our land,” dairy farmer Gražina Gasowska said at the time. “According to the Green Deal, we are supposed to grow what they tell us to grow, when they tell us to grow it.”
On May 10, 2024, farmers protested in front of the Parliament of the Republic of Poland in Warsaw, Poland, chanting “Down with the Green Deal.” (Claudia Radekka/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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“These diversification requirements are very difficult for farmers,” she added.
