Romanian farmers, truckers resume protests after government talks fail

Romanian farmers and truckers resumed protests Monday after negotiations with the government failed Sunday, mirroring similar demonstrations in Germany.

The protests, which began on January 10, have disrupted traffic in several cities, including the capital Bucharest, as farmers and truckers air grievances ranging from high taxes to delayed compensation payments.

Over the weekend, protesters also gathered in border areas, briefly blocking the northeastern border with Ukraine.

Farmers are demanding faster payment of subsidies and compensation for those affected by drought or disruptions caused by Ukrainian grain imports. Truckers, meanwhile, are concerned about increased insurance and tax rates and long waits to cross the border. Some participants admitted to having been inspired by similar protests in Germany, according to media reports.

Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports has made Romania a key transit hub for Ukrainian grain, particularly through the port of Constanța. But the port’s success has angered farmers and transporters who fear being displaced by Ukrainian companies.

The protests began last Wednesday, when dozens of truck and tractor drivers from different cities set out in a slow-moving convoy toward the capital Bucharest. Authorities banned the protesters from entering the city with their vehicles, citing a lack of formal authorization for the demonstration. Several criminal cases have been opened.

After meeting with the ministries of agriculture and transport on Saturday, the protesters met with the finance ministry on Sunday. But no agreement was reached.

"We are at a breaking point," farmer Danut Andrus told journalists, adding that the protests would continue "until these authorities understand that their incompetence in running the country is real."

Wider unrest

On Monday, German farmers resumed their demonstrations in Berlin against government plans to cut tax breaks for agriculture.

The protests, expected to draw 3,000 tractors, 2,000 trucks and 10,000 people from across the country, capped a week of nationwide unrest that has further strained Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s governing coalition as it grapples with a budget crisis and the rise of the far right.

In Poland, farmers and truckers have been blocking border crossings with Ukraine since November, complaining of "unfair competition" from their Ukrainian counterparts and the loosening of European Union access rules for Ukrainian companies.

Polish farmers lifted their border blockade last week but on Monday announced plans for a nationwide demonstration later this month. Farmers in Bulgaria have announced similar plans.