Once again, a number of agricultural organisations are staging a demonstration in Brussels today (Tuesday 26 March). Their protest is against EU agricultural policy and it coincides with a meeting of EU farming and fisheries ministers. During Tuesday morning’s rush hour farmers headed on masse in their tractors towards Brussels' European District. This caused considerable disruption to traffic, particularly in the east and southeast of the city. Police have advised the public not to come to Brussels by car.
Farmers' protest in Brussels: disruption in and around Brussels’ European District
Published:
At 10:30 the farmers staged what they described as a "symbolic action" at the junction of the Wetstraat and the Willem de Zwijgerstraat. Today’s protest coincides with a meeting of EU agriculture and fisheries ministers.
Farmers from Flanders and Wallonia fear that EU agricultural policy will make life impossible for them. Demonstrator Stijn Zelderloo "There are aspects that are not feasible, e.g. bringing in harvests before certain dates or respecting rotation crops. It might be feasible in the larger agricultural countries, but here it is not. We are too dependent on weather conditions."
Traffic disruption
The following tunnels have been closed since 6am.
The Reyers Tunnel (at the end of the E40 motorway)
The Tervuren Tunnel, the Jubelpark Tunnel and the Wet Tunnel heading towards Brussels ity Centre.
The Wetstraat is also closed to traffic from the Brussels Inner Ring Road to Schuman Roundabout.
Diverted traffic is causing congestion in the European District and elsewhere such as on the Leuvensesteenweg in Evere, Schaarbeek and Sint-Joost-ten-Node.
Those using the metro should be aware that some entrances to the Schuman and Maalbeek metro stations are closed for the duration of the demonstration.
Bus routes 12, 21, 56, 79, 64, 60, 36, 27, 34, 80, 95 and 59 have either been diverted of shortened.