Tractors rumble through the streets ahead of EU elections

Farmers were upset because they thought environmentalists were taking their land to make forests. They wanted to stop a climate pact called the Green Deal. They came to the EU headquarters to show their strength. They wanted to keep deciding how to use their land. One farmer had to sell part of his land to make a forest near Brussels. This upset many farmers who felt their traditional way of life was being threatened. Some farmers were unhappy about new rules limiting the use of manure and pesticides. They were also told to keep parts of their land as nature zones for birds and bees. This made conservative Christian Democrats move further to the right. They felt their way of life was being restricted. There were many protests by farmers in different countries. Some groups were supported by a think tank funded by the Hungarian Prime Minister. In the Netherlands, the government made plans that favored farmers over environmentalists. The extreme right party had a big influence on these plans. The protests caused disruptions in many cities. Tractors blocked roads and caused problems. Some extreme right groups used this to criticize the government. Plans to protect the environment were changed in response to the protests. The situation became tense between farmers and environmentalists.