Several farming organisations are today again calling for attention to their uncertain future. The farmers have taken their protests to the ports of Antwerp, Ghent and Zeebrugge. They have gathered at the ports together with dozens of their tractors. For now, the disruption is limited. No access roads or businesses are being blockaded completely. Farmers risk fines if they were to do so.
What is the dispute about?
Farmers are concerned about the uncertain future of the agricultural sector. They are calling for a review of the Flemish government’s nitrogen agreement that out of climate concerns introduces new restrictions . According to the farmers, the current nitrogen law is based on dubious data and agriculture and industry are not being treated equally.
The EU’s Nature Restoration Law has also drawn the farmers' ire. They say the law is a threat to Europe's food supply and comes at the expense of the economy and prosperity.
Farmers are also demanding a permanent halt to agricultural buyouts. They are demanding legal security and insist on an expansion of current agricultural areas.
In the port of Ghent police are preventing farmers from closing off roads entirely. Farmers are occupying several lanes but traffic is able to get through. Our video top shows farmers in the port of Ghent.
In the port of Antwerp tractors are driving around too and intersections are being occupied for short periods of time.
The port of Zeebrugge is another of the farmers’ targets. Here farmers are partly restricting traffic to the port on three access roads. Some 60 farmers with their tractors gathered early this morning and more are expected to join in the course of the day.
Yesterday a judge decided farmers are not allowed to blockade the ports as a result of their protest actions. Fines of up to a thousand euros per person per hour can be imposed.