Czech Republic is bracing for another wave of farmer protests as agricultural workers prepare to take their heavy machinery to the streets this Thursday, February 27. The nationwide demonstration will be part of a larger European protest movement expressing discontent with food imports from non-EU countries.
At the heart of the controversy lies a contentious trade agreement between the EU and South American Mercosur states, alongside duty-free imports from Ukraine. Czech farmers argue that these countries operate under less stringent regulations, enabling them to offer products at lower prices. They’re calling on Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s government to advocate for fair conditions in the European market.
The Agricultural Chamber views the Mercosur agreement as particularly hypocritical. “European farmers and breeders are required to comply with much stricter standards than elsewhere in the world. Yet we’re preparing to open our European market to goods from South America that don’t meet these standards,” states Jan Doležal, the Chamber’s president.
The protesters’ demands include the termination of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, renegotiation of the EU-Ukraine agreement, ensuring maximum market protection from the EU, and establishing equal business conditions across the European market.
Beyond trade concerns, farmers are pushing for reduced bureaucracy and supporting the European “Stop Food Fraud” initiative, which aims to ensure clear labeling of food origin in the European market. The bureaucratic burden has been a key point of discussion between farmer representatives and Prime Minister Fiala.