The United Federation of Farmer and Farmer Groups (Fugea) will demonstrate in Brussels on Monday morning during a meeting of EU agriculture ministers. They will bring dozens of tractors to back up their demands against the massive imports of meat. Farmers, mainly from Hainaut, want their voice to be heard against a free-trade agreement with Mercosur (the common market of the South America). They also want to manifest their discontent after the Veviba affair.
Fugea says, ”Walloon farms are currently threatened by free-trade agreements, such as Mercosur, … which put our breeding model at risk, a quality breeding operation, still strongly linked to grass, which should not be tainted by a scandal orchestrated by an insolent intermediary, such as Veviba.”
The United Federation of Farmers and Farmers Groups had already demonstrated at the end of January in Brussels against the prospect of a free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur. But, since the outbreak of the Veviba case Philippe Duvivier, the president of the Fugea, senses "a wind of revolt" among breeders.
Fugue's actions will be supported by the association of dairy farmers MIG. A delegation of agricultural organiations hopes to meet Monday with several Belgian and European politicians.
The Brussels Times
