VIDEO Violent scenes in Brussels. The protest that gathered thousands of farmers from Europe degenerated into street fights near the European institutions
Thousands of farmers from across Europe began their march through Brussels on Thursday afternoon to protest against European agricultural policy. Shortly after the start of the demonstration, it escalated into violence near the European Parliament, reports the Belga News agency.
The march began around 12:30 p.m. near Brussels North Station, where various delegations had previously addressed the crowd. The demonstrators moved along the small road belt on Boulevard du Roi Albert II before heading towards Rue de la Loi and Place du Luxembourg.
Tensions rose sharply once the protest reached the European Parliament. Demonstrators initially threw potatoes, beets and dung at police officers, who responded by using a water cannon.
Enorme Tensions in front of the European Parliament: farmers lance pommes de terre on police officers who respond with tear gas grenades!#AgriculteursEnColère #AgriculteursEnColere #Brussels pic.twitter.com/0CC57WbcwQ
— Teddy en roue libre (@Tedenrouelibre) December 18, 2025
I'M GETTING HIM OUT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION!#AgriculteursEnColère #AgriculteursEnColere #Frexit #Brussels pic.twitter.com/9ul5oHzBjz
— Teddy en roue libre (@Tedenrouelibre) December 18, 2025
The situation then deteriorated further, with protesters throwing stones, smoke bombs and fireworks at the EU parliament buildings.
Farmers from across the EU are back in Brussels today to remind lawmakers that tractors don't run on promises.
While the European Commission insists it has bent over backwards to meet their demands, the protesters say it's still not enough.
🔗 https://t.co/1CJRlTQhHG pic.twitter.com/elBTF8kaoM
— POLITICOEurope (@POLITICOEurope) December 18, 2025
Tractors were also seen uprooting trees from the square.
Journalists on the scene reported verbal abuse from some protesters, who also threw objects at the camera crews. Bystanders who had nothing to do with the demonstration were also affected, covering their mouths and eyes with handkerchiefs as tear gas spread across the area.
Très Fortes tensions en cours devant le Parlement européen à Bruxelles.#AgriculteursEnColère #AgriculteursEnColere pic.twitter.com/Qtoi14G6Hv
— Teddy en roue libre (@Tedenrouelibre) December 18, 2025
Les agriculteurs tirent des mortiers d'artifices envers la police! #AgriculteursEnColère #AgriculteursEnColere #Brussels pic.twitter.com/snYmUabZgB
— Teddy en roue libre (@Tedenrouelibre) December 18, 2025
Several people have complained of eye irritation, and some are even in a state of shock, according to the Belgian news agency.
The demonstration was dispersed prematurely on the small road belt around 1:45 p.m. and will not continue in the European quarter as originally planned. However, hundreds of farmers broke away from the main demonstration and headed towards the Place du Luxembourg.
Why farmers are protesting again in Brussels
The protest coincides with a two-day EU summit in Brussels. Farmers oppose the proposed free trade agreement with the South American trade bloc Mercosur, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. European farmers fear unfair competition if the deal is signed.
However, the demonstrations go beyond opposition to the trade deal. As in the case of last year's demonstrations, which included several European countries, the farmers are also protesting against EU regulations which, they say, make investments and obtaining licenses more difficult.
Other grievances are related to proposed reforms to the EU's multiannual budget, which would cut agricultural spending by more than a fifth.
“European decision-makers may say that agriculture is of strategic importance, but their policies do not reflect this. We are not asking for words, but for deeds,” said a speaker ahead of the march.
The agreement between the EU and Mercosur, “on standby”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Wednesday she was not ready to back a trade deal between the EU and South American trade bloc Mercosur, dashing hopes of a deal being finalized in the coming days. Meloni thus joined France in requesting a delay in approving the agreement, which is also rejected by other countries, including Poland.
“The Italian government has always made it clear that the agreement must be beneficial for all sectors and that it is therefore necessary to address in particular the concerns of our farmers,” Meloni told the lower house of parliament.
His comments came as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was due to travel to Brazil later this week to sign the agreement, concluded a year ago after a quarter of a century of negotiations with the South American bloc.
Berlin instead reiterated its support for the deal on Wednesday. “If Germany does not return to the status of a strong exporting nation, then we will not be able, from an economic and financial point of view, to bear additional burdens for a growing multiannual financial framework,” said Sepp Müller, deputy chairman of the Bundestag parliamentary group of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's party. He thus referred to the increase of the EU budget.
“Germany is an exporting nation, from which, coincidentally, all other EU countries also benefit,” the German official pointed out.
What does the agreement contested by European farmers entail
The EU-Mercosur trade deal will eliminate customs duties on 91% of EU exports, including motor vehicles, from the current level of 35% over 15 years. For its part, the EU will progressively eliminate customs duties on 92% of Mercosur exports over a period of up to 10 years.
Mercosur will also eliminate customs duties on EU agricultural products, such as 17% on wines and 20-35% on spirits.
For more sensitive agricultural products, such as beef, the EU will offer increasing quotas to Mercosur states.
There are also EU quotas for poultry, pork, sugar, ethanol, rice, honey, corn and sweet corn.
Additional beef accounts for 1.6% of EU beef consumption and 1.4% of poultry consumption. Supporters of the deal point to existing imports as evidence that Mercosur is meeting EU standards.
The agreement recognizes 350 geographical indications to prevent imitation of certain traditional EU food products.
