Farmers are protesting in Brussels today against a free trade agreement between the EU and several South American countries. Around 10,000 protesters are expected to attend.
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Farmers protest against free trade agreement: tractor convoys on the motorways, gridlock in Brussels
Colin Clapson
Published:
Why are farmers protesting today?
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants to formally sign the agreement between the EU and the Latin American Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Uruguay) on Saturday.
From 11 a.m. today, a demonstration will get underway, with European farmers making it clear that they do not agree with the trade agreement.
Where does the police expect traffic disruption?
The police expect traffic problems across the Brussels Region today. The following route will be closed all day: Koning Albert II-laan – Kruidtuinlaan – Bischoffsheimlaan – Kunstlaan – Regentlaan – Wetstraat – Trierstraat – Montoyerstraat – Maria van Bourgondiëstraat – Luxemburgstraat – Luxemburgplein.
The inner Brussels ring road is likely to be closed to traffic, as is the Kunst – Wet intersection. There may also be traffic disruption in the streets around the Wetstraat, Belgium's political nerve centre, and the European quarter. The problems may continue until late afternoon.
Most of the participants will be travelling to the Wetstraat from early in the morning via various access roads.
Blockades in and around Brussels cannot be ruled out either. All these protest actions could have serious consequences for traffic, which is already hampered by the European summit taking place today at the same time as this large-scale demonstration.
The Reyers Tunnel will be closed for the entire duration of the summit, which takes place from 17 to 19 December.
These streets, avenues and tunnels are already closed
Many streets, avenues and tunnels in Brussels are already closed. These include the Wetstraat and the Belliardstraat,the Kortenberglaan, the Belliard tunnel towards the E40 and Tervuren, as well as the Reyers, Jubel and Wetstraat tunnels towards the city centre.
Most disruption on the E40 from Liège
The first tractors started blocking the Wetstraat as early as yesterday evening, causing traffic chaos in the centre of the capital.
At around 8 o'clock this morning, there were no blockades on the motorways, but there were slow-moving tractor convoys, according to the VRT traffic unit.
The worst disruption is on the E40 motorway from Liège towards Brussels. It was taking an hour to get from Tienen to Everberg.
In the European quarter, almost all streets are blocked, with convoys of tractors arriving there as early as yesterday evening and last night.