Farmers drive tractors in front of government office, where they dumped manure, during a protest against European Union agricultural policies, grievances shared by farmers across Europe, in Prague, Czech Republic, March 7, 2024. REUTERS/Eva Korinkova

Europe’s restless farmers are forcing policymakers to act

Polls suggest the general population is on farmers' side; farmers lynchpins of rural economies say leaders

European policymakers have scaled back rules to protect nature, drawn up limits on the import of tariff-free Ukrainian grains and scrapped new legislation limiting pesticide use as farmers' protests resonate with voters ahead of elections.



French farmers drive their tractors on a highway as they protest over price pressures, taxes and green regulation, grievances shared by farmers across Europe, in Longvilliers, near Paris, France, January 29, 2024. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

EU recommends ambitious 2040 climate target, goes light on farming

In face of farmer protests, EU weakens some recommendations related to agriculture

The European Commission recommended on Tuesday that the EU slash net greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent by 2040, an ambitious target that will test political appetite for the region's fight against climate change ahead of EU elections.