The young farmers’ association ‘Lëtzebuerger Landjugend a Jongbaueren’ have joined their colleagues from across the border in protest.
Blocking the crossing at the border triangle near Schengen, the farmers intend to send a message to EU officials in Brussels and stand up against artificial borders and different agricultural conditions within the Union.
Approximately 200 tractors convened at the site, including on the bridge near Schengen, with police overseeing traffic management to mitigate disruptions. The protest started at 10am, strategically timed to avoid peak rush hour traffic. Additionally, a police helicopter was deployed over the Moselle city to monitor the situation.
Notably, the Young Farmers’ Association emphasised their intention to avoid causing chaos. They clarified that the protests were not targeted at the Luxembourg government, citing ongoing constructive dialogue with Minister of Agriculture Martine Hansen. A participating farmer reiterated this sentiment, stating, “In Luxembourg, we have a very good national dialogue with politicians at the moment […] But on an EU basis, we are just as affected as all the other member states. That’s why we took part.”
Highlighting specific concerns, another protesting farmer articulated the challenges posed by competition from goods imported into the EU from third countries lacking equivalent standards. Emphasising the demand for parity in standards, the farmer underscored the need to prevent such products from undermining local producers.
On Monday, the farmers’ unions expressed scepticism regarding the efficacy of protests, noting Prime Minister Luc Frieden’s forthcoming meeting with agricultural representatives scheduled for Thursday.
A press conference, held by the young farmers’ association, has been scheduled for 2pm at Place des Etoiles in the capital.
