European farmers are protesting changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the European Union's (EU) agricultural policies, which are set to be discussed at its annual budget conference on Tuesday in Brussels.

Copa-Cogeca announced on X that it has organized a flash action called "EU House of Cards" in Belgium's capital and across 20 EU countries.

"Our message to European Commission this morning is cristal clear: Without a protected, dedicated budget for agriculture, EU agri-policy could collapse like a house of cards," Copa-Cogeca, the umbrella organization representing 22 million farmers and agri-cooperatives, said in a social media post.

The protest coincides with a high-level event opened by European Commissioner for Budget Piotr Serafin, with a keynote speech by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on developing a policy-based budget for an “Investment Commission.”

Farmers strongly oppose proposals to dissolve the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) into a single fund, further renationalization, or a rushed CAP reform proposal expected in July that lacks clear funding, governance, and stakeholder consultation.

Ahead of negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), they are urging the European Commission to protect the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) as critical pillars of the CAP.

Copa-Cogeca stressed in the statement: "The EU budget is not just a technical tool but a deeply political matter, especially when it comes to agriculture.

"In the face of geopolitical instability, economic volatility, climate change, and evolving global trade, one thing is certain: food security is security."

Meanwhile, a public services strike in Brussels and Wallonia disrupted transportation, affecting metro, tram, and bus services, with some lines operating at reduced capacity and others suspended entirely.

Source - https://www.aa.com.tr