After major farmers’ protests: Von der Leyen promises less bureaucracy. Russian Wagner soldiers are said to have executed 25 people in Mali

After weeks of farmers’ protests, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has responded. On Thursday, at the end of the EU summit in Brussels, she promised farmers less bureaucracy. She wants to soon make a proposal to the Member States “to reduce the administrative burden”.

Farmers have been taking to the streets in Germany, France and other European countries for weeks, partly because of what they see as overly strict EU regulations. In Brussels, farmers blocked the streets around the European Parliament during the summit and police counted up to 1,300 tractors.

Von der Leyen also referred to her committee’s “strategic dialogue,” which aims to bring farming and environmental associations and the food industry together at the same table. The results could be included in the next reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), planned for 2028.

French farmers in particular are also protesting against the planned EU free trade agreement with the South American Mercosur states, because they fear cheap competition. Von der Leyen said she would take into account the “legitimate interests of farmers” in the Mercosur negotiations.

French President Emmanuel Macron had called for the talks to be broken off. However, the European Commission announced that it would continue working to finalize the agreement. At the summit in Brussels, Macron welcomed the fact that there was no “hasty” conclusion.

(hah/sda/afp)