Warsaw: In a demonstration of defiance, thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Warsaw, the Polish capital, on Friday, voicing their opposition to European Union environmental regulations that farmers argue are detrimental to their livelihoods.
The protesters, primarily farmers, were joined by representatives from other sectors of the Solidarity trade union, including miners and automotive workers, who organized the protest.
Farmers across Poland and elsewhere in the EU have been staging protests in recent months, decrying both the influx of cheap food imports from Ukraine and the stringent restrictions imposed on them by the EU’s Green Deal, aimed at combating climate change.
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Amidst a sea of red and white Polish flags and Solidarity banners, demonstrators, many clad in yellow high-visibility vests, brandished placards bearing slogans such as “Down with the Green Deal, Down with the European Union” and “Green Poison”.
Retired farmer Wieslaw Czerwinski from Grojec, central Poland, expressed his discontent, stating, “The only thing it’s good for is throwing in the bin. It raises the costs of production, raises costs every day, costs of heating, costs of energy.”
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Accompanying the protesters were politicians from the previous nationalist government, who accused the current pro-European administration led by Donald Tusk of prioritizing Brussels’ interests over those of ordinary Poles.
In response, Tusk’s government refutes these allegations, contending that their predecessors undermined Poland’s relationships with Western allies while neglecting to support sectors such as agriculture.
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While farmers have secured concessions from both the EU and the Polish government, including a commitment to pay 2.1 billion zlotys ($526.74 million) in subsidies to offset low grain prices, many assert that these measures fall short of addressing their concerns.
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Nevertheless, last month, farmers opted to lift the blockade on border crossings with Ukraine, ending a months-long standoff that had strained bilateral relations and impacted Ukraine’s trade.
