New farmer show of force shakes Europe

EU ministers gather to reduce red tape and discuss proposed changes to policy

Farmers across Europe continued their protests on Monday against the rising production costs, excessive environmental regulations and cheap imports despite recent appeasement by European Union politicians.

Some 1,000 tractors took over the areas and blocked streets around Brussels' Schuman Roundabout, which houses EU institutions. Traffic in the area was paralyzed.

"Farmers' mobilizations continue across Europe because policymakers have so far failed to listen to those who feed our populations in Europe and who are on the front line of climate crisis," said Morgan Ody, a farmer from Brittany, France, and member of ECVC, which represents small farmers in more than 20 EU states.