BRUSSELS

Farmers staged protests across several European countries on Thursday, blocking major roads, ports and border crossings with tractors, as the EU prepares to vote on a free trade agreement with the South American Mercosur bloc.

In Belgium, farmers set up filter blockades at key traffic points in Wommelgem, the port of Zeebrugge and the city of Ghent, according to Flemish-language broadcaster VRT.

Tractor protests disrupted traffic in Zeebrugge, Wommelgem and Ghent, where blockades involving up to 150 vehicles caused delays exceeding 30 minutes. Farmers also lit fires at protest sites in Zeebrugge and Ghent. The actions were announced in advance and are expected to continue until the evening.

In French-speaking Belgium, the Walloon Federation of Young Farmers (FJA) said it would block several strategic junctions with tractors.

In France, farmers drove dozens of tractors into Paris early Thursday, gathering near iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, broadcaster BFMTV reported.

The protests aim to draw attention to what farmers describe as mounting pressure on the agricultural sector, particularly from trade agreements they say expose them to unfair competition.

They are also demanding fewer administrative requirements and a relaxation of EU rules, which they say weaken their competitiveness.

‘Neither fair nor equitable’

Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said France remains opposed to the agreement in its current form. "This treaty is neither fair nor equitable," she said on Franceinfo radio, adding that the deal "falls short" and reflects "another era."

Bregeon noted that even if approved, the agreement could still face challenges during the ratification process in the European Parliament.

In Spain, farmers in Catalonia resumed road blockades to protest the Mercosur agreement, as nearly 100 tractors blocked several main roads and disrupted access to the port of Tarragona, several local media outlets reported.

Protesters warned they would continue demonstrations indefinitely until the Mercosur agreement is withdrawn, arguing that it would lead to unfair competition and pose risks to consumer and animal health due to differences in phytosanitary standards.

In Greece, farmers have escalated nationwide protests, blocking major highways, bypasses, and key crossings, and warned of a 96-hour strike if their demands are not met, Greek daily To Vima reported.

The Athens-Lamia highway is fully closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles, while diversions are in place across Thessaloniki, Tempi Valley, and Western Macedonia, including the key customs posts.

Authorities have deployed riot police and highway patrols to enforce road safety and prevent clashes, with the government offering dialogue on agricultural reforms but stressing roads must remain open.

The demonstrations come as divisions deepen among EU member states ahead of the expected vote on Friday.

Ireland and Hungary have announced they will vote against the agreement, citing concerns over its impact on farmers. Poland is also known to oppose the deal, while countries such as Germany and Spain support it. Italy has expressed conditional backing, calling for safeguards to protect vulnerable agricultural sectors.

The European Commission has recently proposed advancing €45 billion in EU funding to farmers under the bloc's next seven-year budget and cutting import duties on some fertilizers in an effort to ease opposition.

The EU-Mercosur agreement would grant preferential tariffs for imports of beef, poultry, dairy products, sugar and ethanol from Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia, while European industrial goods would gain broader access to South American markets.

Originally expected to be signed in December, the deal was postponed to the new year due to resistance from several member states.