EU Farmers Protest Subsidy Cuts

European farmers protested in Brussels Monday against the European Union’s expected cut in agricultural subsidies.

More than 6,000 farmers from more than 20 countries demonstrated as the majority of EU farm ministers discussed sugar reform plans for the first time in Brussels, the EU Observer said.

Nearly all the ministers tend to favor steep cuts in farm subsidies.

Sugar price supports, for example, would be reduced 39 percent over two years under a plan advanced by the EU’s agriculture commissioner.

The commission hopes to have agricultural subsidy plans finalized by November.