Large demonstration on Friday

Farmers now also besiege Italy’s capital

Italy's farmers are also hoping that their voice will be heard. They have similar demands to farmers in other European countries who are also revolting.(Bild: APA/AFP/Andreas SOLARO)

While the farmers' protests in France have died down a little following concessions by the government in Paris, Italian farmers are now increasing the pressure on their political representatives. Farmers from all over the country want to besiege the capital Rome. A large demonstration is planned for Friday.

The first tractors have already arrived in the suburbs of Rome. Farmers from agricultural regions such as Tuscany and Emilia Romagna marched south towards the capital with the Italian flag and handwritten signs with slogans such as "No farmer, no food". Italian farmers share many of the complaints of their colleagues in other parts of Europe.

Tractors on their way to Rome(Bild: APA/AFP/Andreas SOLARO)

The country's most important trade union not involved
They complain about competition from cheaper imports from areas outside the European Union, such as North Africa, and complain that fuel costs are rising and that EU measures to protect the environment and combat climate change are having a negative impact on their business. Farmers are also pushing for the reintroduction of an income tax credit introduced in 2017, which the government has removed in the 2024 budget bill.

The farmers' protests in Italy are being led by a number of individual groups and not organized by Coldiretti, Italy's main agricultural association, which has close ties to the government.

Meloni: "Always have an open ear for workers"
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stressed that Italy had done more than some of its EU neighbors to support its farmers. "Of course, there is always room for improvement and I am always open to the demands of workers, which are important to us," she said. Fuel subsidies for farmers should also be maintained, she added.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni(Bild: APA/AFP/Andreas SOLARO)

Greens call on EU Commission to act
In view of the Europe-wide protests, the Greens have now called on the EU Commission to take action. In addition to an end to the negotiations for an EU-Mercosur agreement, the Green Party leadership is calling for an investigation into the market power of large agricultural companies. This is the result of an open letter to the Brussels authority, which was also signed by Austrian MEP Thomas Waitz.