Farmers are holding demonstrations to protest the proposed European budget for 2028-2034, CAP reforms and trade agreements
Farmers in Spain will hold demonstrations and rallies in at least 25 provinces across the country today (29 January) to protest the proposed European budget for the 2028-2034 period and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
According to Fepex, other key issues the industry is demonstrating against include trade agreements and the lack of profitability of farms.
In Murcia, the protests organised by Asaja, Coag and UPA will be supported by Proexport, an association within Fepex.
The protests will focus on EU trade agreements with third countries, such as Mercosur and particularly the agreement with Morocco, which ”severely harms the fruit and vegetable sector in Murcia and Spain”, Fepex noted.
The EU-Morocco Agreement, adopted on 2 October and awaiting ratification by the European Parliament, will grant fruits and vegetables from the Sahara – with its significant and growing production volumes and plans to significantly increase its cultivated area over the next five years – the same tariff concessions already enjoyed by Moroccan produce.
”This will likely lead to increased competition from Morocco, whose production conditions are very different from those of EU producers,” Fepex outlined.
Proexport said it also shares the concerns of agricultural organisations regarding the lack of guarantees concerning water resources, the cuts to the Tagus-Segura Water Transfer, the potential closure of groundwater irrigation systems, and the application of environmental regulations considered excessively restrictive for agricultural activity.
In Almería, meanwhile, a demonstration has been called in front of the Government sub-delegation.
”One of the main reasons for the protest is the European Commission’s agreement with Morocco, which will have a very negative impact on fruit and vegetable producing regions like Andalusia,” Fepex continued.
The Almería demonstration, organised by Asaja, Coag and Cooperativas Agroalimentarias, also has the support of the Association of Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organizations (Coexphal), an association integrated into Fepex.
Among the reasons for the protests are the rejection of the proposed new Multiannual Financial Framework and the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.
”These proposals point to a reduction in funding and a redistribution of the budget through a new fund of national and regional plans that each member state will have to develop, thus diluting the European dimension of the CAP,” Fepex stated.
Increased production costs, especially for fertilisers and energy, is another reason for the protests, ”compounded by growing bureaucracy”.
Asaja, Coag and UPA have called for the so-called ’Super Thursday’ of demonstrations in at least 25 provinces across the country, including all of Andalusia – together with Agri-food Cooperatives of Spain – Castilla y León, and the Canary Islands, as well as cities such as Toledo, Murcia, Valencia, Alicante, Logroño, Vitoria, and Bilbao.
Meanwhile, Unión de Uniones has called for a tractor protest to take place in Madrid on 11 February.
