EU farmers egged on by the far right have taken to spreading muck outside government buildings, barricading roads and creating widespread havoc as Brussels fights to keep the agriculture sector on board with its green transition.
In an effort to placate farmers and neutralise a campaign issue ahead of June’s European parliament elections, Ursula von der Leyen, opened “strategic dialogues” with 27 delegates from farming groups, NGOs and financial institutions on Thursday.
“We all have the same sense of urgency that things have to improve, that we have to find a new way forward, and common and lasting solutions for the problems that you are very much aware of,” the European Commission president said.