Overview
- Between roughly 4,000 and 5,500 protesters with 600 to 750 tractors gathered in Strasbourg, largely from France with delegations from Italy, Belgium, Poland and other EU countries.
- Protesters sought to sway lawmakers to request a Court of Justice opinion on the pact on Wednesday, with AFP reporting a very close outcome and French MEPs across parties expected to back the referral.
- The agreement, signed on January 17 by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, would expand trade with Mercosur countries, while farm unions warn of market disruption and imports produced under different standards.
- Major unions FNSEA and Jeunes Agriculteurs led the mobilisation, pressed MEPs in person, vowed to remain through the vote, and noted a separate censure motion against the Commission chief is set for Thursday with little chance of passing.
- Skirmishes erupted near the Parliament as some threw projectiles and police used tear gas and water cannon, and several dozen French mayors signaled solidarity by taking down EU flags from town halls.