Thousands of Polish farmers took to the streets of Warsaw, Poland’s capital, in protest against cheap imports and European Green Deal regulations that they argue are detrimental to their livelihoods. The farmers clashed with police outside the parliament building, with the police using pepper spray and accusing some protesters of violence against security forces. The demonstration also saw the participation of hunters and forestry workers. The farmers’ protest is part of a larger movement happening across the European Union (EU), where farmers are calling for changes to the restrictions imposed on them by the bloc’s Green Deal plan and for the reimposition of customs duties on agricultural products imported from Ukraine.
The farmers in Poland are particularly concerned about the impact of cheap imports on their industry and the potential contamination of food with chemicals. They believe that the Green Deal’s restrictions on chemical products and the importation of potentially contaminated food are unfair and harmful to their business. The protest in Warsaw saw farmers burning a coffin symbolizing the death of their industry due to the Green Deal. Some protesters also burned tires and used firecrackers during the demonstration.
The response from the police has been criticized by opposition lawmakers, who called on the government to defend the farmers. There have been reports of police using tear gas and allegedly attacking farmers with batons. Farmers have also accused the police of provoking them and throwing objects into the crowd. Several officers were wounded, and around a dozen people were detained during the clashes. The city hall is considering asking the organizers of the protest to pay for any damage caused.
The protest in Poland has also raised concerns about anti-Ukrainian sentiment, with authorities worried that Russia may be using legitimate concerns to create divisions between Poland and Ukraine. Some farmers have displayed anti-Ukrainian slogans during the protests.
Opposition lawmakers have urged all parties to include a resolution in the parliamentary agenda that calls on the government to ban imports of agri-food products from Ukraine and negotiate effective custom protection mechanisms with the EU. The resolution was proposed by farmers and introduced by the opposition party Law and Justice (PiS) caucus, but lawmakers from the ruling coalition voted against it.
The protest has put pressure on Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who is strongly pro-EU and supportive of Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion. Tusk has invited farmer leaders to talks, and he has also called on the European Commission to impose full sanctions on agricultural and food products from Russia and Belarus.
The European Commission’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, has stated that grain imports from Russia to Poland are minimal and that the country is a net exporter of grain. However, according to a report by Poland’s Supreme Audit Office, the majority of Poland’s grain imports in 2022 came from Ukraine.
The farmers’ protest in Poland highlights the challenges faced by agricultural communities across the EU. They are calling for changes to regulations that they believe are unfair and harmful to their industry. The clash with police in Warsaw underscores the tensions and frustrations felt by farmers who believe their concerns are not being adequately addressed by the government. As the protest continues, it remains to be seen how the government will respond and whether any meaningful changes will be made to address the farmers’ grievances.
