Protesting farmers on Friday blocked Belgian-Dutch border, while French farmers started lifting blockades after government made further concessions. Ahead of the European Union summit, farmers protest, that erupted in France, spreaded to various regions across Europe exposing tensions over the farming.
Belgian and Dutch farmers blocked several border crossings between their countries including Zeebrugge port. The port is mainly handles car imports and fresh produce from the United Kingdom. Around 2,000 trucks were backed up outside the port.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo urged his farmers to lift their blockades.
Amid rising protests, the Greece government promised to help with energy costs for farmers on Friday, including a one-year extension of a tax rebate for agricultural diesel hoping to calm the farmers, who are seeking fast compensation for losses in flooding.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament the diesel measure would cost the state 82 million euros ($89.31 million) in 2024 and announced additional steps to help farmers."Things will improve for our farmers... and solving their problems is in the heart of our government's priorities," he said.
Farmers have been setting up blockades in central and northern Greece.
The government also promised that farmers' overdue power and water bills will be settled.
Polish farmers' Solidarity trade unions has announced a general strike starting next Friday with a blockade of border crossing between Poland and Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the French farmers said President Emmanuel Macron's government needed to act on its pledges, which have included scrapping plans to raise tax contributions on tractor diesel, easing of pesticide regulations and more safety checks on food imports.
