BARCELONA/CASTELLON, Spain, Feb 7 (Reuters) – Convoys of tractors converged on Barcelona’s city centre on Wednesday and farmers blocked roads across Spain in protests against high costs, bureaucracy and cheap competition that have spilled over from elsewhere in Europe.
On their second day of protests, Spanish farmers planned to disrupt traffic and meet with local authorities to explain their grievances. Around 15 major roads were blocked across Spain on Wednesday afternoon, traffic authorities said.
BARCELONA/CASTELLON, Spain, Feb 7 (Reuters) – Convoys of tractors converged on Barcelona’s city centre on Wednesday and farmers blocked roads across Spain in protests against high costs, bureaucracy and cheap competition that have spilled over from elsewhere in Europe.
On their second day of protests, Spanish farmers planned to disrupt traffic and meet with local authorities to explain their grievances. Around 15 major roads were blocked across Spain on Wednesday afternoon, traffic authorities said.
Farmers across Europe, including in Germany, France, Italy and Belgium, have staged sometimes violent protests.
They say European Union rules to protect the environment make them less competitive than farmers in other regions such as Latin America. They also complain against what they say are increasingly burdensome bureaucratic measures.