Slovenian Farmers Protest Against Reservoir Construction and Tax Hikes
Slovenian farmers are staging small, scattered tractor protests across the country, voicing a range of demands. This includes protecting agricultural land and the immediate implementation of agricultural policies adopted in 2023 but not yet enforced. The protesters also oppose the introduction of new taxes, reports The Slovenia Times.
It's noted that on February 14, around a hundred farmers staged a protest in Celje and Slovenj Gradec in the northeast of the country. Last week, small columns of tractors were spotted in Ptuj, Lenart, Šentjur, Celje, Slovenske Konjice, and Šoštanj. At these rallies, farmers expressed feelings of despair, anger, and abandonment.
Farmers argue that Slovenian legislation regarding pesticide use is even more stringent than in other EU countries. They also criticize the EU for importing cheap food products from countries with low regulatory standards, with which EU farmers cannot compete.
Farmers want Slovenia to follow France's example and enshrine the right to farming in law, and they demand decent pensions for retired farmers.
Protesters in Celje also spoke out against the planned construction of reservoirs in areas affected by severe floods in August 2023. However, farmers are not opposed to flood prevention measures per se but believe they should be implemented differently, with less cost and without encroaching on agricultural land.
Slovenia's Minister of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, Jože Novak, stated that he understands farmers' concerns. He said the reservoir project is still in the planning stages, and debates and consensus must be reached before construction begins.
The official is set to meet with farmers, with the Minister of Agriculture also present. He promised that no one's land would be taken away arbitrarily and that landowners would receive compensation for their land.
It's worth noting that in spring 2023, Slovenian farmers, led by their union, staged mass protests across the country before reaching an agreement with the government regarding their key demand related to environmental restrictions in Natura 2000 areas, while receiving promises that their other demands would be addressed promptly.
It's worth mentioning that Slovenian farmer protests are not unique in Europe, as a wave of farmer protests has swept through EU countries, particularly against the EU's "green law," which demands a reduction in pesticide use.