Farming unions' Brussels protest

Roundtable at NFUs in Brussels offices_275_154

On Monday 7 September, thousands of farmers from across Europe descended on Brussels to protest about poor returns ahead of an EU Agriculture Ministers’ extraordinary meeting.

The NFU, NFU Cymru, Ulster Farmers' Union and NFU Scotland joined forces with their European counterparts for the demonstration which was been organised by COPA-COGECA, the umbrella group for European farming organisations.

EU farming unions' protest_600_372

BRUSSELS PROTEST - AS IT HAPPENED...

Mon 7 Sept - PROTEST DAY *times below are for Brussels*

  • 7am: Farmers lNFU members gather for protest_275_206eft St Pancras on an early Eurostar train and arrived in the Belgian capital shortly after 9am Brussels time - see the latest pictures from the protest on Flickrhere
  • 8.30am: Copa-Cogeca Secretariat hands out leaflets to DG Agri announcing protest and key demands
  • 10am: Press Conference with Copa President Albert Jan Maat and Cogeca President Christian Pees
  • 10.30am: European farmers and agri-cooperatives gathered at Brussels Nord railway station with short speeches from Copa President Albert Jan Maat and Cogeca President Christian Pees
  • 11.15am: Farmers walked to outside European Agriculture Ministers extraordinary meeting
  • 12-1pm: UK farming ministers met with their respective ministers at NFUs in Brussels office - joint statement from UK farming unionsRoundtable at NFUs in Brussels offices_275_154
  • 12.15pm: European farmers and agri-cooperatives protested with speeches from Copa President Albert Jan Maat and Cogeca President Christian Pees
  • 2pm: Copa President Albert Jan Maat and Cogeca President Christian Pees met EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan and the Luxembourg Presidency at the Justus-Lipsius building
  • 3pm: Demonstration ended

Sun 6 Sept

  • Farmers arrive in London
  • Who's going from the NFU?:Around 30 NFU members and officeholders will be boarding an early Eurostar train on Monday to show their solidarity, including: Meurig Raymond, NFU President, Guy Smith, NFU Vice President,Stephen James, NFU Cymru President,John Davies, NFU Cymru Deputy President, Lyndon Edwards, NFU Cymru Livestock Chairman,Michael Oakes, NFU Dairy Board Vice Chairman, Charles Sercombe, NFU Livestock Board Chairman and a number of NFU Council delegates.
  • NFU Cymru bilateral meeting with Welsh Government ministerial team in Brussels

Fri 4 Sept

  • Briefing sent to farmers ahead of rally

Thurs 3 Sept

  • Agriculture Committee of EU Parliament
  • French farmers converge on Paris for prices protest

Weds 2 Sept

Tues 1 Sept

  • COPA meetings on beef and dairy
  • Dinner with MEPs and UK officeholders