Extremaduran Farmers Organize Tractor Protest to Brussels Against CAP and Mercosur

The APAG Extremadura ASAJA association has called for a tractor rally that will depart from the region between April 1 and 2, heading to Brussels.

The organization's president, Juan Metidieri, announced at a press conference that they will arrive on April 7 after covering nearly 1,243 miles (2,000 kilometers). The goal is to convey their demands to European authorities regarding the reforms that severely affect the Spanish agricultural sector.

The convoy will consist of three tractors, a support car, and a logistics team that will ensure operability and supply during the journey. The route will last between five and six days, averaging 248 miles (400 kilometers) daily, crossing Spain, France, and Belgium to reach their destination.

APAG Extremadura ASAJA has invited farmers to join at key points such as Ávila, Segovia, Valladolid, Burgos, and Pamplona to strengthen the protest. The mobilization aims to denounce the excessive bureaucracy of the CAP, demanding real simplification and a fair budget for the Spanish countryside.

The farmers reject the Nature Restoration Law, the Green Deal, and the 2030 Agenda for imposing restrictions without effective solutions. They criticize the approval of the Mercosur-EU agreement, which they consider harmful to national producers facing unfair competition from third countries.

Additionally, they demand fairness in the use of phytosanitary products, as they are banned in Spain, while in other countries their use is allowed without restrictions. They denounce the inequality in the importation of agricultural products, demanding the same traceability and quality standards for imported food.

Metidieri called on farmers and ranchers to support this historic tractor rally and requested financial support from companies and sponsors. "What the MEPs should do is defend our countryside and not impose measures that lead us to ruin," stated the agricultural leader.

The organizers warn that if they do not receive responses, they will continue with new actions to highlight the crisis facing the primary sector. The tractor rally is an unprecedented action that seeks to pressure Brussels to address the demands of the countryside and ensure its future viability.

The Spanish agricultural sector has been protesting for months over the impact of climate and trade policies that have affected the profitability of their farms. This mobilization adds to other tractor rallies that have traveled across Spain in recent months, showing the growing discontent of the agricultural sector.

Extremaduran farmers hope that their arrival in Brussels will serve to open a real dialogue with European institutions and halt new regulations. In the coming days, the organization will detail the schedules and meeting points for those who wish to join the caravan on its journey to Europe.