Farmers protesting in Brussels, Madrid, press ministers to act

Smoke rises from burning tires during a protest of European farmers over price pressures, taxes and green regulation, on the day of an EU Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brussels, Belgium February 26, 2024. REUTERS/Yves Herman

BRUSSELS/MADRID (Reuters) -Farmers set fire to piles of tyres in Brussels on Monday in a protest to demand action on cheap supermarket prices and free trade deals, as agricultural ministers from across the EU met to discuss the crisis in the sector.

Riot police fired water cannon at protesters throwing bottles and eggs, while about 900 tractors jammed parts of Brussels, a short distance from the cordoned off area where ministers were meeting.