Fights with police and manure being sprayed on public buildings.
The peasant demonstrations in Europe have been dramatic. But in Sweden it seems to be calmer.
– We advocate peaceful demonstrations, says Patrik Fernlund, organizer of a tractor demonstration in Växjö.
Since the turn of the year, farmers around Europe have gathered in demonstrations. It has been very messy at times. In Poland, protesters clashed with police where both tear gas and firecrackers were fired. In France and Spain, hundreds of tractors have blocked roads and border crossings. In the Czech Republic, farmers dumped large amounts of manure outside a government building.
But when the demonstrations continue in Sweden, organizer Patrik Fernlund hopes and believes that there will be no unrest.
– I always think it is unnecessary to use violence and you should not divide, but you should unite and discuss. I think that is the right way, he says.
Complicated rules
Many different points of view and problems have been highlighted during the demonstrations in Europe. Poor profitability for farmers, complicated regulations and not least the environmental policy within the EU which they believe will have a big impact on farmers.
– In the EU, decisions are made far too quickly over the heads of both farmers and consumers, says Patrik Fernlund.
Olof Gill is spokesperson for trade and agriculture at the European Commission and he says that several member states have been pointing out for months that their farmers have a difficult situation. The European Commission has now come up with a series of proposals that at least partially meet the needs of farmers. This includes, among other things, how often land must be fallow, increased financial support and exceptions for small farms and in extreme weather.
– Most member states have understood that within the new agricultural policy, our farmers find it difficult to do the work they want to do as efficiently as possible, says Olof Gill.
Want to spark debate
The demonstrations in Växjö and Kristianstad are not the first in Sweden. At the end of February, a tractor demonstration was held in Hörby. About a hundred people then participated. Patrik Fernlund says that he has no idea how many people might turn up at the demonstration in Växjö.
– I’m happy if we get ten or twenty. If we get a hundred, it’s great fun. But the purpose of this is to spark debate and the number of participants is unimportant to me. It is sad that demonstrations like this are needed in Europe, but it is clear that it is needed to make the EU wake up, he says.