Weapons at the Expense of Food.. Budget Conflict Ignites Food Security Crisis in the European Union

The European Farmers' Union warned in a statement of the inevitability of a food crisis due to insufficient support measures from Brussels.

The statement said: "A food crisis looms on the horizon, and we cannot wait... the measures taken (by the European Commission) are completely insufficient."

The statement pointed out that "to ensure food security and overall stability in the European Union, long-term large-scale investments, short-term support, and legislative adaptation in the agricultural sector must be employed."

EU countries are witnessing a wave of widespread protests by farmers, which peaked in late 2025 and early 2026, expressing rejection of economic and environmental policies that threaten their livelihoods.

The "Mercosur" agreement is the main driver of the protests, as European farmers categorically reject the free trade agreement with South American countries; fearing a flood of European markets with cheap products that are not subject to strict European standards.

Among the motives are also the reduction of agricultural allocations in the Union's budget (2028-2034) in favor of defense and technological spending, and environmental restrictions, especially the "Green Deal," which imposes restrictions on the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and increases production costs.

European farmers express discontent with what they call "unfair competition" through the continued influx of agricultural products at low prices, which has eroded the profits of local farms.