An Overview of the Farmers' Protests Against the EU Green Deal in Italy, Poland, The Netherlands and Spain

In recent years, farmers across several European countries have mobilized in increasingly intense opposition to climate-related agricultural policies. While the climate crisis and globalisation have deepened farmers’ economic vulnerability and social marginalisation, these dynamics have also made agricultural groups more receptive to populist and far-right discourses. Farmers’ protests have been driven by a combination of material grievances—such as declining incomes, market volatility, and competition from global trade—and opposition to perceived burdens imposed by EU environmental regulations, particularly within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). From the Netherlands, to Belgium, France, Spain, Ireland, Germany, and the United Kingdom, protest actions have included tractor blockades of roads and ports, occupations of capital cities, and highly symbolic performances aimed at attracting public and media attention. These developments have raised concerns among mainstream political actors about a potential “climate backlash” and its exploitation by right-wing populist forces. This article provides a comparative analysis of farmers’ protest movements related to climate change in Europe between 2020 and 2025. Using Protest Event Analysis based on coverage from major national newspapers, we examine protest events in five EU member states (Spain, France, Italy, Poland, and the Netherlands) as well as at the EU level, focusing on mobilizations taking place in Brussels. The study analyzes the scale, intensity, and evolution of farmers’ protests, with particular attention to action repertoires, including disruptive, performative, and violent strategies; organizational targets and issue framing; and the national versus supranational scope of mobilization. We also assess the extent and characteristics of far-right involvement in these protests and its relationship to protest framing and political opportunity structures. Our findings show that while farmers’ protests share common grievances across countries—such as low farm-gate prices, unfair competition, and the regulatory burden of environmental policies—the form, intensity, and framing of mobilization are strongly shaped by national contexts. In particular, the institutional strength and political legitimacy of far-right actors play a key role in influencing protest narratives and alliances. Despite their locally embedded character, contemporary farmers’ protests reveal transnational patterns that underscore the growing tension between climate governance and social acceptance. These dynamics highlight the urgency of designing a just and inclusive transition toward more sustainable agricultural systems in the current European political cycle.