Angry farmers took their frustration at the EU-Mercosur deal to the streets of Brussels today. Farmers in tractors blocked roads, threw potatoes and eggs as European leaders gathered to debate a contentious trade pact with South America. 

The clashes erupted shortly before midday with police deploying tear gas and water cannons on the thousands of protestors who blocked roads with commuters urged to take public transport. “Mobility in Brussels and the surrounding area is likely to become particularly problematic,” the police said. According to the demonstators they are concerned about the prospect of South American products entering the EU and about the reform of agricultural subsidies.

The EU-Mercosur agreement will create the world’s largest free trade zone and will help the EUexport more goods including vehicles, machinery, wine, and spirits to Latin America.

However, farmers fear that the EU-Mercosur agreement could undermine their livelihoods. Demonstrators came together on tractors near the Europa building which was hosting hosted leaders from the EU’s 27 member states as they debated whether to amend or delay the trade deal.

Meanwhile, a parallel rally gathered at Place Luxembourg, just a short walk from the European Parliament.

More than 40 European agricultural organisations from 26 countries are taking part in the protest, including the Flemish farmers’ union Boerenbond and Wallonia’s FWA.

Farmers are also demonstrating against the proposed multi-year budget and the European Union’s new common agricultural policy, with the Farmers’ Union warning that agricultural funding would be reduced by more than 20%

“This loss threatens food security, quality, landscape maintenance and strategic autonomy,” the union said.

On Wednesday just before midnight more than 100 tractors rolled in and blocked Rue de la Loi outside the European Commission and European Council buildings, catching authorities off guard.