Warsaw [Poland], January 4: Farmers' organizations took to the streets of central Warsaw on Friday to protest against European Union (EU) trade and agriculture policies.
The protest began in the early afternoon near the Representation of the European Commission in Poland. A massive crowd assembled in the streets, carrying Polish national flags and banners.
Later, protesters started to march through the streets of the city center all the way to the National Opera, where the Polish EU Council presidency inauguration ceremony is set to take place later in the day.
According to farmer.pl website, the march has been organized by Poland's alliance of agricultural organizations to denounce the "harmful policies of the European Union."
Demonstrators oppose the EU's trade agreement with the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) countries, as well as the Green Deal, imports from Ukraine, and the "destruction of Polish forests and hunting."
Polish Agriculture Minister Czeslaw Siekierski said on Friday he expects the protesters to submit detailed demands.
He stressed that the Polish government is unequivocally opposed to concluding an agreement with Mercosur on agricultural issues, and that it is attempting to build a blocking minority against this agreement.
Source: Xinhua News Agency
