ALBAWABA- Thousands of farmers from across the European Union converged on Brussels on Thursday, blocking major roads with hundreds of tractors, clashing with police, and disrupting traffic during an EU leaders’ summit.
Protesters hurled eggs, potatoes, and smoke bombs, set off fireworks, and ignited fires, prompting authorities to respond with tear gas and water cannons. The demonstrations oppose the proposed EU-Mercosur free trade agreement with South American nations including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
Farmers warn the deal would flood European markets with cheaper beef, poultry, sugar, and other imports produced under lower environmental, labor, and animal welfare standards, threatening local producers who must comply with strict EU regulations.
War breaks out outside EU headquarters in Brussels. European farmers want Ursula von der Leyen and EU politicians. European farmers are no joke. pic.twitter.com/M6alrrnLLn
— RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) December 18, 2025
Protesters also voiced broader grievances over the EU Green Deal, which imposes emissions cuts, pesticide restrictions, biodiversity mandates, rising costs, bureaucratic hurdles, and potential reductions in agricultural funding.
Nations such as France, Poland, and Ireland are leading the backlash, arguing that the deal favors industrial interests over farmers’ livelihoods.
The protests echo large-scale demonstrations in 2024 that forced partial EU concessions on environmental rules. Timed to coincide with the summit, organizers hope to pressure EU leaders, particularly amid French threats to veto the Mercosur accord. Organizers warned that protests would continue if their demands for fair competition and protections for European farmers are ignored, highlighting growing rural-urban tensions across the continent.
