Flemish government reaches agreement with protesting farmers | Abroad

After a long day of negotiations, the Flemish government and the agricultural organizations Boerenbond, Algemeen Boerensyndicaat (ABS) and Groene Kring reached an agreement around 11:15 p.m.

“The Flemish government and agricultural organizations have agreed on a package of measures that meets the justified aspirations of Flemish farmers,” Flemish Prime Minister Jambon responded to X. He urges farmers to stop their actions and blockades. “With this future-oriented agreement, the Flemish Government is doing what it can within its own powers. Now that this agreement has been reached, I call on people to stop actions that disrupt our economy,” Jambon said.

Flemish and also Walloon farmers have taken fierce action in recent weeks against, among other things, nitrogen policy, low prices of agricultural products, free trade agreements and what farmers consider to be too strict European regulations. They blocked roads and distribution centers, among other things.

The agreement reached contains a package of measures. One of the main sticking points concerned the protection of agricultural land, an important demand of agricultural organizations. It has been agreed that the Flemish government will no longer purchase land in agricultural areas until October 1. There are some exceptions, such as for areas of general interest or in flood areas, but also for land in European protected nature reserves. The latter point was a sticking point for hours on Thursday.

Agreements have also been made about the manure policy. The ban on fertilization in Flemish nature reserves has been put on hold for the time being. The Flemish government does not want to change anything about the nitrogen policy, but it will discuss it with the EU. In addition, there will be a reduction in the administrative burden for Flemish farmers and fines for violations will be less likely to follow.

There will also be a working group, chaired by the Flemish Prime Minister, including all sectors involved, such as agriculture, nature and industry, which will examine land use in Flanders.

According to Minister of Agriculture Jo Brouns, the difficultly reached agreement proves the importance of the agricultural sector as a strategic sector in Flanders. According to the minister, the agreements made respond to the uncertainty surrounding legal certainty for farmers and the protection of agricultural land. “It is important that we move towards a spatial policy in which farmers are given every opportunity in agricultural areas and nature in nature reserves achieves its goals to the fullest.”

Boerenbond CEO Lode Ceyssens reports that the agreement on the package is not an end point of the negotiations, but the start of a process in which the Boerenbond will closely monitor the agreements made.