In a movement echoing their French and German counterparts, Spanish agriculturists have taken to the streets to voice their grievances over soaring production costs, stiff competition from non-EU nations, and burdensome red tape. The epicenter of their protest on February 13 was Barcelona, where key urban areas came to a standstill. South of Barcelona, a blockade of tractors at Mercabrana, Catalonia's premier wholesale market, underscored their similar demands.
Mauri Bosch, a local fruit and vegetable producer, highlighted the unequal playing field with countries outside the EU, citing "enormous problems" with imports that do not meet EU labor and phytosanitary standards, including Moroccan vegetables, Turkish produce, South African oranges, and South American cereals.
As Europe's foremost fruit and vegetable supplier, Spain feels the pinch from North African and Latin American competition. The sector's frustration was exacerbated by negative remarks from Ségolène Royal about Spanish tomatoes and actions in France targeting Spanish goods. Ricard Huguet, an organic producer near Barcelona, expressed bewilderment over the situation, pointing out the absurdity of complaining about French dairy products when all EU members are subject to the same agricultural policies. Amidst police surveillance, protesting farmers, grappling with an unprecedented drought necessitating an 80% cut in water usage, signaled their resolve to persist in their demonstrations.
Source: actualnewsmagazine.com