European farmers' protests against Mercosur deal highlight EU division

Thousands of farmers from across Europe rallied near the European Parliament and the Europa Building in Brussels on Thursday as European Union (EU) leaders convened for a summit, with a long-negotiated trade deal with the South American bloc Mercosur on the agenda.

Protesters, many arriving in tractors, blocked the roads leading into central Brussels, blared horns and set off fireworks. Police deployed water cannon and tear gas near the Europa Building, where leaders of the 27 EU member states held discussions on the trade deal and other issues from early morning.

Outside the European Parliament, demonstrators initially threw potatoes and beets at police, who responded by using water cannons. The situation later escalated into violence, with protesters hurling stones, smoke bombs and fireworks at Parliament buildings, while tractors were seen uprooting trees in the square. Police used tear gas to disperse the violent protesters.

The demonstration targeted the free trade agreement between the EU and the four founding Mercosur countries -- Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Initiated more than 20 years ago, the deal reached an agreement in principle in 2019, with negotiations finalized in 2024.

The proposed pact would expand EU exports of vehicles, machinery, wines and spirits to Latin America, while easing access for South American beef, sugar, rice, honey and soybeans to the European market.

Some media said that this is the largest pan-European farmers' protest in Brussels this century. Also, the organizers said that the protest involved 40 to 45 national agricultural organizations, marking the first time such a broad participation occurred in Brussels.

A Polish farmer said that the Russia-Ukraine conflict is also a significant reason for people taking to the streets, as the influx of Ukrainian agricultural products has caused substantial fluctuations in the prices of Polish agricultural products, resulting in a noticeable decline in local farmers' incomes. "The situation between Russia and Ukraine has played a significant role, as Ukrainian products like wheat were previously unable to enter our market. However, after the outbreak of the war, the situation changed. Following the EU's decision to open its market to Ukrainian agricultural products, the price of Polish wheat dropped by half, from over 1,000 zlotys (about 279.07 U.S. dollars) per ton to 600 zlotys (about 167.44 U.S. dollars). This issue extends beyond wheat to include poultry, honey, and many other agricultural products," said the Polish farmer.

Some farmers have come to protest over trade issues, while others are concerned about potential cuts to the agricultural share in the EU's budget for the next fiscal year.

"I want to say that Europe is on a path of self-destruction. All the decisions made in Europe go against the interests of its citizens, with industrial and various sectors being neglected. It seems that only the self-interests of individual countries truly matter, and we are harming Europe in the process," said another farmer.

European farmers' protests against Mercosur deal highlight EU division

China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Fu Cong said on Thursday that more efforts are needed to advance Syria's political transition process, maintain zero tolerance for terrorism, and jointly address the terrorist threat.

Despite positive developments, the overall situation in Syria remains complex and fragile, Fu said at a meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in the Middle East.

Fu pointed out at the meeting that over the past year, with support from the international community, positive changes have emerged in the Syrian society.

He emphasized that, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, efforts should be made to uphold the "Syrian-led, Syrian-owned" principle to advance an inclusive political transition.

Meanwhile, the situation in Syria remains complex and fragile, with prominent ethnic tensions, a severe counter-terrorism landscape, and multiple humanitarian challenges.

The presence of Israeli forces in the buffer zone and their attacks on Syrian targets have heightened regional tensions. The activities of a large number of foreign terrorist fighters pose a serious threat to peace and security in Syria and the wider region.

"Recent terrorist attacks in Homs and Idlib, Syria, made alarm bells ring once again. We call on the Syria's transitional government to fulfill its counter-terrorism obligations and take all effective measures to firmly crack down on all international terrorist organizations listed by the UN Security Council, including the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM)," said Fu.

Fu stressed that all countries should uphold a zero-tolerance position on terrorism, oppose selective counter-terrorism and double standards, and handle the delisting from counter-terrorism related sanctions prudently.

China stands ready to continue working with the international community to play a constructive role in helping Syria achieve security, stability, and development at an early date.

While over two million internally displaced persons and more than 1.3 million refugees have returned to their homes in Syria, humanitarian needs remain severe due to housing destruction, inadequate public services, and security risks, according to Joyce Msuya, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator.

It is essential to de-escalate conflicts, scale up assistance, promote the easing of sanctions, seize the window of opportunity for political transition, and support Syria's recovery and reconstruction, she urged.

China calls for political transition, stresses zero-tolerance for terrorism in Syria