Venturing Beyond Borders of Germany, France, Romania, and Belgium

In the wake of heightened agricultural protests in Germany, France, Romania, and Belgium, Italy is now witnessing a surge in fervent demonstrations by farmers. Scores of Italian farmers gathered on Monday, steering their tractors toward Rome with the intention of presenting their grievances to the government, as reported by Agerpres, citing information from AFP.

A Week-Long Occupation on the Horizon

Italian farmers echo many of the grievances expressed by their counterparts across Europe in this economic sector. “We came to meet the Minister of Agriculture and ask for the launch of a permanent roundtable,” explained Andrea Papa, co-founder of the Riscatto Agricolo (Agricultural Redemption) movement, which dispatched several tractors from the Tuscany province in the central-northern region of the country.

With the expectation of around 1,500 to 2,000 tractors joining the protest on Friday, demonstrators intend to stay in the Italian capital for the entire week. Simultaneously, in Turin, in northern Italy, approximately 200 tractors gathered on the outskirts with the intention of holding their ground.

Demands and Grievances

The ongoing protests in Italy primarily demand better remuneration, the removal of fuel taxes, an increase in milk prices, and a reduction in ecological requirements. Their grievances also extend to protesting against cheap imports.

Ideological Interpretation of Ecological Transition

While on an official visit to Japan, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attributed farmers’ dissatisfaction to an ideological interpretation of the ecological transition. According to her, this transition focuses on environmental protection at the expense of farmers. The government regularly accuses Brussels of imposing rules contrary to Italy’s industrial and agricultural interests in the name of ecological transition.

Spotlight on Sanremo Festival and Public Support

Danilo Calvani, leader of the Betrayed Farmers Committee, the main entity coordinating Italian farmers’ protests, revealed plans to voice their grievances on the renowned Sanremo Festival stage. He stated being in contact with the event organisers for further coordination.

In response, the acclaimed Italian presenter Amadeus expressed support for the tractor protest in a pre-festival press conference, considering it a righteous and sacrosanct endeavour to protect the right to work and defend job positions.

Italy’s Agricultural Standing

Italy, as the third-largest agricultural power in the EU after France and Germany, achieved a production of €71.5 billion in 2022, according to the European Commission.

Editor: Andreea Gudin