Spanish farmers burn Turkish flag in tax protest

Spanish farmers set a Turkish flag and tires ablaze at Castellon port, voicing opposition to EU’s strict agricultural policies

Spanish farmers escalated their protests Wednesday by blocking key roads and port access, including the Castellon port.

The protests were marked by the burning of tires and a Turkish flag, reflecting the growing frustration among European farmers over high costs, complex bureaucracy and competition from non-European Union countries.

The farmers’ outrage is centered around what they perceive as unequal competition with imports that do not adhere to the EU’s strict regulations, as reported by Reuters.

Citrus farmer Felipe Domenech voiced his frustration at the port of Castellon, saying, “What we are asking for is to be able to compete with the fruit that is arriving from other countries, with conditions and regulations that have nothing to do with ours.” He continued, “It is totally unfair competition, and what we are asking for is that if the fruit comes from abroad, it should enter under the same conditions, nothing more.”

Echoing these sentiments, fellow protester and citrus farmer Joan Manuel Mezado emphasized the disparity in standards. “The demands imposed on Spanish, Valencian, and European farmers are not exactly the same as those imposed on foreign products. Therefore, it is unfair competition that the European Union must stop,” Mezado stated.

In response to the escalating protests, which mirror similar demonstrations in Germany, France and Belgium, the Spanish government has announced a subsidy boost of 269 million euros (about $290 million) for up to 140,000 farmers.

Additionally, the European Commission has withdrawn a plan to reduce pesticide use by half in the EU, a move that had been opposed by the farming community.

Source: Newsroom

Spanish farmers blocked highways, ports as anger spreads across Europe against high costs, competition from non-EU states. Citrus farmers light up a barricade of tires, fruit boxes, and a Turkish flag as they blocked the Mediterranean Port of Castello, protesting against imports pic.twitter.com/Z4nOhjoRqy

— Türkiye Today (@turkiyetodaycom) February 7, 2024