‘Symbol of polarisation’: EU scraps plans to halve use of pesticides

I hope all the people glueing themselves to roads see this as a clear sign that it is a valid and effective form of protest and ramp up their actions.

This is the best summary I could come up with:

The European Commission is shelving plans to cut pesticide use and is taking the pressure off agriculture in its latest emissions recommendations, as farmers around Europe continue protests demanding higher prices for their products and an easing of EU environment rules.

The moves mark the bloc’s latest environmental concessions to farmers, whose recent protests across Europe in countries including France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland and Greece spread this week to Spain and Italy.

Last week, in response to the protests, the bloc announced plans to limit market disruption from Ukrainian products entering the EU and delayed rules on setting aside more land to promote soil health and encourage biodiversity.

Farmers say they face a storm of challenges, including falling product prices, rising energy, fertiliser and transport costs, cheap foreign imports, all-powerful retailers and excessive European and national regulations.

Far-right and anti-establishment parties, which are projected to make major gains in June’s European parliamentary elections, have picked up on farmers’ grievances as part of a wider drive against EU influence, pushing them to the top of the bloc’s agenda.

Several people were injured in traffic accidents related to the protests, according to De Telegraaf, including two who needed hospital treatment after collisions that local authorities blamed on thick smoke from burning hay bales and wooden pallets.

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