By Athena Papakosta

The first compromise of Brussels was won by the farmers who have risen up all over Europe.

The European Commission announced yesterday, Wednesday, that it will delay the implementation of the green rules while appearing, at the same time, willing to put a brake on the imports of Ukrainian products, so as not to threaten domestic production.

At this time farmers in Francethe Belgium and Italy they block major road arteries leading to Paris, Brussels and Rome, respectively.

Yes, the Belgian farmers have gone one step further and the first tractors are inside the Belgian capital and at a breathing distance from the door of the buildings of the European institutions. Their goal is to block today’s planned Summit in order to pressure the “27” of the Union for better prices for their products and less bureaucracy.

The European Commission, after weeks of mobilizations, which were first “initiated” by German farmers, did not hide its concern and made its first retreat. Consequently, for 2024 – and under certain conditions – the Commission is disconnecting the Community subsidies for the 4% of agricultural land which, according to the Common Agricultural Policy, obliged farmers to maintain in Fallow.

And the said measures may have to receive the green light from the Member States of the Union and the European Parliament, but, as reported by the international media, they are a sudden but symbolic concession.

“Farmers are the backbone of the European Union’s food security and the heart of our rural areas. (…) Today’s measure offers more flexibility to farmers at a time when they are facing multiple challenges. We will continue to work with our farmers to ensure that the Common Agricultural Policy strikes the right balance between responding to their needs,” stressed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

About 10,000 farmers remain within a stone’s throw of Paris with at least 100 roadblocks on France’s highways. 18 have been arrested as they tried to approach the Renzis market and 79, according to The Guardian, have been brought in as they tried to enter it.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin had warned that while farmers’ protests on highways would be tolerated, police would not allow farmers to block airports or Europe’s biggest market, which supplies Paris.

A few meters away, on the A6 motorway, south of Paris, farmers hung a huge banner reading “Paris, let the farmers pass”.

French President Emmanuel Macron is already in Brussels, who will have a meeting with the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, where he is expected to exert pressure to relax the conditions for green agriculture, to limit duty-free imports from the Ukraine and to abandon the negotiations on free trade with the countries of South America, concerning the Mercosur agreement.

The whole of Europe remains in the rhythm of rural mobilizations with farmers escalating until their governments and Brussels give in and satisfy their demands.