EU Farmers Protest Mercosur Deal in Brussels

Thousands of farmers from across the European Union gathered in Brussels on Thursday to protest against a proposed free trade agreement with Mercosur nations, blocking major roads with hundreds of tractors and clashing with police in the shadow of an EU leaders summit. The demonstrations, which drew an estimated 10,000 participants from all 27 member states, highlighted deep concerns over the deal's potential to undermine local agriculture through an influx of cheaper imports.

The protests began peacefully in the early morning as tractors rolled into the city center, honking horns and displaying banners decrying subsidy cuts and unfair competition. By midday, tensions escalated near the European quarter, where demonstrators hurled eggs, potatoes, fireworks, and smoke bombs at security forces. In one incident, a tractor drove toward a line of riot police but did not strike anyone. Some protesters also targeted journalists, smashing windows and throwing rocks. Belgian authorities, who had authorized a gathering with up to 50 tractors, reported around 1,000 vehicles on site and deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds and maintain access to summit venues. Police made...