Dear media representatives,

Farmers from numerous EU countries will make their way to Brussels to stage a high-impact protest on 13 and 14 December to demand a fair agricultural system. At the same time as the EU Agriculture Council, producers will be in the European Quarter with their tractors to demand a climate policy with fair framework conditions.

We invite you to attend this large-scale protest to gain an informative insight from the critical perspective of the agricultural sector. The introductory press conference will be held on 13 December at 9:00 at the Residence Palace (Maelbeek Room, Rue de la Loi 155, 1040 Brussels). The protest thereafter will begin at 11:00 at Place du Luxembourg.

EU citizens depend on us farmers for their food supply. And it became especially evident during the pandemic that we producers fulfil this task in a highly reliable and responsible way.

Despite this, farmers themselves are under ever-increasing pressure. Due to serious mistakes that were made in the past, the current agricultural system is already incapable of providing prices that ensure appropriate production-cost coverage. New strategies like the Green Deal will only push these costs further up. However, the same strategies do not make any provisions for cost coverage for producers. And farmers have no say when it comes to shaping these strategies. Decisions are made over their heads, even though the only way for these strategies to have any real success is through close cooperation with producers, who are the main stakeholders in the food-production chain. This is the only way for climate strategies to be truly effective as well as affordable. 

Without the framework conditions for a fair agricultural system, which ensures production-cost coverage and the involvement of farmers in the formulation of climate strategies, the reliability of EU food production and thus food security for all of us in the EU is in danger. Therefore, EU producers will be in Brussels on 13 and 14 December to categorically call for appropriate framework conditions in the agricultural sector and to thus defend food security in the EU.

Overview of the protest

What: Large-scale protest by EU farmers with tractors

When & Where: From 13 December, 9:00 to 14 December, 14:00

13 December:

• 9:00: Press conference (Residence Palace)
• 11:00: Demonstration (Place du Luxembourg)

14 December:

9:00: Farmers-consumers breakfast (Place du Luxembourg)

Who: Producers from the LsV, FDF, EMB, EUnited AGRI with tractors

Contacts of the participating organisations:

LsV – Claus Hochrein: 0049 160 2381822
FDF – Jos Ubels: 0031 623 505051
EMB – Sieta van Keimpema: 0031 612 168000 and
EMB Press Office: Vanessa Langer: 0032 484 533512/ office[at]europeanmilkboard.org
EUnited AGRI – Karolina Hernik: 0048 537 910640/ biuro[at]instytutrolny.pl

Download press invitation as PDF in Dutch

Download press invitation as PDF in Polish

Download press invitation as PDF in English

Slogans of the protest on 13 and 14 December 2021

1. No farmers - No Green Deal: BRING FARMERS TO THE NEGOTIATION TABLE!

2. Green Deal: We farmers have solutions!

This is our DEAL - Here is what we want:

3. High quality food for our citizens & food sovereignty worldwide: DEAL!

4. Short circuits – good climate – eat EU-regional: DEAL!

5. Focus on farms’ economic & social situation: DEAL!

6. NO decrease in number of farmers: DEAL!

7. Avoid hunger & chaos, and strengthen local agriculture: DEAL!

8. Effective external protection: DEAL!

    Free Trade Agreements: NO DEAL!

9. Green strategies without shifting of EU production & without Carbon Leakage: DEAL!

10. All production cost – also sustainability cost – covered: DEAL!

11. No harmful impact on Africa: DEAL!

12. Essential changes in EU Agri system: DEAL!

Green Deal must be a deal by and with farmers. Let’s change the climate for the better & not food for the worse! Together WITH farmers!

No farmers – NO Deal!