Farmers' protests across Serbia, government ignores their demands

(Patria) - Farmers in Serbia are protesting in several cities today after negotiations with the Serbian government failed yesterday.

Since the morning hours, they have blocked local and main roads in Niš, Požarevac, Novi Sad, Zrenjanin, and other cities.

Farmers, who parked their tractors in Novi Sad, have not blocked traffic, as reported by a Radio Free Europe reporter, but have stated that they will remain there until their demands are met.

They are demanding 300 euros in subsidies per hectare of arable land and that excise duty and VAT not be charged on the diesel fuel they use. They also demand that the subsidy per cow be 40,000 dinars, which is about 340 euros.

Farmers and livestock breeders also expect the authorities to ensure prices for agricultural products, wheat, corn, soybeans, and others, as they are on the exchanges in Budapest and Paris, as stated.

The list of demands also includes the introduction of protective duties on dairy products imported from the European Union and CEFTA signatory countries, which are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Montenegro.

Farmers reiterated these demands after yesterday's meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić.

Nedeljko Savić, president of the "Stig" Association from Požarevac, said that they are forced to protest as none of their demands have been met.

- We tried last year to point out the market disruptions - Savić said after the meeting at the Serbian Government.

Ahead of the protests, representatives of several agricultural associations announced that they would take to the streets and block numerous cities in Serbia.

The Serbian government, led by Ana Brnabić, has not yet reacted to the protest or commented on the latest negotiations with farmer representatives.