European Protests Start To Hinder Logistics
During recent weeks, truckers and farmers from all over Europe have been holding protests, which has started to have an impact on some logistics routes.
In France last week, farmers blocked a main route that links the country with Spain as they demonstrated at the border. This forms part of nationwide protests and rolling blockades in protest against supermarkets efforts to force down prices and recent European Union bureaucracy.
In Germany, both truckers and farmers have been holding protests against the phasing out of tax breaks on agricultural diesel, they suggest the changes will lead them to bankruptcy.
In Romania, farmers and hauliers took to main roads with tractors and trucks to cause maximum disruption last week. They are protesting against the high diesel prices, insurance rates, European Union bureaucracy, and lowball competition from Ukrainian drivers.
In Poland, farmers also staged nationwide demonstrations last week, protesting against Ukrainian agricultural imports. Meanwhile, truckers have continued their efforts to block borders, as they also protest against lowball Ukrainian competition.
Across Europe, farmers in particular are discontent over the revamping of European Union policies. The agricultural sectors in multiple countries are not happy with EU plans to make the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) more sustainable, as currently over 70% of the funds are spent on safety net payments to farmers.
With truckers and farmers united in their attempts to escalate their issues further, there are fears that the roadblocks and disruption could spreading to other countries and raise the likelihood of delays to the delivery of goods on European routes. It’s certainly something that your Evolution team are keeping a close eye on.