February 21, 2023

Czech farmers up in arms in Prague over energy costs, EU's Green Deal

Hundreds of farmers in the Czech Republic descended on Prague on February 19 to protest high energy costs, cheap goods from Ukraine and the European Union's Green Deal.

The farmers, who intend to disrupt traffic and cause blockades, planned to deliver a list of demands to Czech Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný. Their demands include the country withdrawing from the Green Deal.

Výborný accused Bohumír Dufek and the former president of the Agrarian Chamber, Zdeněk Jandejsek, of pursuing their own political goals and not representing Czech farmers.

"(The February 19) demonstration does not have much in common with the fight for better conditions for farmers," Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on X. "The demonstration is organised by people who, for example, do not hide their support for the Kremlin and pursue goals other than the interests of farmers."

"We deal with those who really represent farmers and talk together about what our agriculture needs," Fiala added.

Dufek strongly denied the allegations. He asked Výborný to invite all agricultural groups to negotiate. Large industry organisations such as the Agrarian Chamber or the Agricultural Union are not participating in the protest, as they have distanced themselves from the gathering. They are preparing another protest against EU border policy on February 22.

In recent weeks, agricultural groups across Europe have protested the EU's Green Deal. In an attempt to placate farmers ahead of European elections in June, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has already withdrawn a bill to halve the use of chemical pesticides by 2030.

- Politico