Tractors converge on Rome as farmers protest across Europe
- Though the demonstrations have wound down in France after government concessions, the movement has taken hold in Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and elsewhere
- Farmers have blocked motorways and disrupted traffic in key cities with convoys of tractors

A convoy of tractors was poised Saturday to descend on Rome as farmers’ protests caused disruptions across Europe, though they wound down in France following government concessions.
Farmers have expressed anger at what they say are excessively restrictive regulations on agriculture and unfair competition, among other grievances.
The movement erupted in France last month and there have also been protests in Germany, Belgium, Poland, Romania, Greece and the Netherlands. Farmers have blocked motorways and disrupted traffic in key cities with convoys of tractors.
In Italy on Saturday, around 150 tractors massed in Orte, about an hour north of Rome. Protesters there called for better pay and conditions and announced their imminent arrival in the Italian capital.

“Italian agriculture has woken up,” protester Felice Antonio Monfeli said. “It’s historic and the people here are proving it. For the first time in their history, farmers are united under the same flag, that of Italy.”