“Peasant Protests in Europe
“Peasants and farmers protest in many parts of Europe, claiming their right to live in dignity, with fair prices for their product and adequate remuneration for their work. They reject free trade agreements and call states and the European Union (UE) for more support.
In Europe, like in rest of the world, peasants are disproportionately affected by food insecurity and poverty. The rate of suicide in agriculture is much higher than in other professional activities. To support them, the main EU instrument is the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
CAP accounts for 31% of the EU budget, which means that 55 billion euros are spent every year to support agriculture. This is huge. However, the sum is unfairly distributed. Only 20% of food producers receive 80% of the CAP’s budget. The choice of calculating financial support based on the size of farms – instead of the number of people active in the farms – leads to increasing concentration of farm holding. Between 2005 et 2020, the number of farms in the EU declined by 37 %, with small farms experiencing the strongest decline. This also leads to less product diversity and greater biodiversity loss.
Affected by competition with product imported from other continents and sold in Europe at low prices, and pressured by various intermediaries, peasants often have to sell their products below the costs of production. They are also pushed to transition to organic farming – with the legitimate objective of 25% of agricultural land under organic farming in the EU by 2030 in the European Green Deal – without enough support to make that transition and benefit from it. This situation in part explains the current fight for peasants’ rights.
Below is republished an article written by Christophe Golay linking current farmer protests in Europe to the rights contained in UNDROP. This article was originally published in English on the Geneva Graduate Institute website on February 6, 2024. A list of articles and press releases, notably from the European Coordination Via Campesina, concerning these protests and peasants’ demands, is also provided at the end of the page.
These protests are the undeniable sign of a massive and widespread violation of peasants’ rights in Europe, caused by a liberal system that is out of breath and in perpetual crisis. Defending Peasants Rights joins peasants in calling for a profound change in the system, which is the only way to ensure fair prices and good working conditions. We also denounce any recuperation of these protests by the extreme right or by union leaders who no longer represent the interests of farmers, but only those of the agro-industry and large retailers.” (3, 4)
3. Peasant Protests in Europe. By: Christophe Golay. Published. On February 13, 2024
4. Peasants’ Rights and Protests, by Christophe Golay. Published: Globe, on 27. maj, 2024.
