In a display of agreement with European farmers, thousands of farmers took to the streets across the Republic of Ireland, responding to the call from the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) for protests on February 1.
Demonstrations, echoing similar attitudes in capitals such as Paris and Brussels, highlight concerns over environmental regulations, overseas competition, pricing disparities, and minimal returns.
Recent protests outside the European Parliament in Brussels are symbolic of the frustration voiced by the IFA.
READ MORE | Protests in Europe call for supporting food production
IFA president Francie Gorman understood farmers' discontent with EU policies and their local enforcement.
READ MORE | French and Belgium officials try to calm farming protests
Simultaneously, leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron convened with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to discuss new measures supporting farmers, proposing exemptions from Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) rules for 2024.
Von der Leyen highlighted the pivotal role of farmers in ensuring food security and rural vitality, offering flexibility among many challenges, aiming to strike a balance between farmers' needs and public goods delivery.
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