Mass farmers’ protests have erupted in Europe in recent weeks. In countries like Germany, farmers are protesting against high taxes and subsidy cuts. In states like Lithuania, farmers are protesting against increased excise duties on petroleum gas and the transit of Russian-produced grain. In most countries, protests are being carried out by blocking roads with tractors and trucks meant to transport tree logs. This article provides information on roadblocks during the protests in Europe.

Lithuania

In Lithuania, farmers' protests will take place from 23rd of January, 11 a.m. to 26th of January, 4 p.m. On Tuesday, around 1,300 agricultural vehicles arrived in the centre of Vilnius. They are blocking traffic on Vilnius' Gediminas Avenue (Gedimino prospektas), where traffic is expected to be restricted until Friday. 

France

In France, protests began in the south-western part of the country and spread to other regions. Protesting farmers are blocking roads, with the first blockades starting in the Occitanie region and spreading to the north of Paris and Brittany. The main blockade is on the A64 motorway, 30 km from Toulouse, where the road is closed in both directions.
Below is a map showing the blocked roads. The yellow square indicates the roads blocked or affected by the protests, the yellow line indicates the affected roads and the yellow line with black markings indicates the roads blocked since Wednesday.

Source: Le Monde

Italy

Farmers in Italy are protesting over high fuel prices in some of the country’s main cities - Rome, Milan, Florence, Naples, Bologna and several others. The protests mainly affect entrances and exits to and from central parts of the cities. In Bologna, 200 vehicles stopped at the entrance to the city are making the traffic very difficult. Similar traffic blockades have been reported in other cities.

Romania

Farmers in Romania are also blocking roads to protest for lower taxes and higher subsidies. Some roads in the outskirts of Bucharest and roads leading to the Siret crossing on the border with Ukraine are blocked. The road to the Calafat customs post on the border with Bulgaria has also been blocked by tractors and trucks.

Germany

Farmers in Germany are protesting against government budget cuts which have led to the withdrawal of some subsidies and benefits to local farmers. Traffic has been blocked in Berlin city center and the main street to the Brandenburg Gate has been closed. Traffic was stopped in Kloppenburg and in Dresden tractors blocked the entrances to the main motorways - A4, A13, A14 and A17. Traffic was also disrupted on the borders with France, Poland, and the Czech Republic

Keywords: work for drivers, work for long-haul drivers, road bans, farmers' protests, roadblocks, traffic restrictions