Romanian farmers and truck drivers protest as talks with Government fail to reach agreement

Protesting truck drivers slow traffic down on a road leading to Bucharest, in Afumati, Romania. Photo / AP

Truck drivers and farmers protested across Romania again today NZT as negotiations with the coalition Government over lower taxes, higher subsidies and other demands failed to reach any agreements.

Long convoys of trucks and tractors disrupted traffic on the outskirts of the capital, Bucharest, and other cities throughout the European Union nation.

It was the sixth straight day of demonstrations.

Farmers are demanding faster subsidy payments, compensation for losses caused by imports from neighbouring Ukraine, and more state aid for fuel costs, among other demands.

Truck drivers are calling for lower tax and insurance rates, and have complained about lengthy waiting times at the borders.

Meetings between the protesters and the agriculture and transport ministries were held over the weekend, but no agreements were reached.

The demonstrators at the weekend also caused brief blockades at the border with Ukraine in the northeast, Ukrainian border authorities said on Telegram.

Today, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu called for an “urgent drafting” of legislation to resolve the protesters’ complaints.

“We continue to negotiate in good faith with the protesters. We are fully open to dialogue,” Ciolacu said in a meeting with ministers involved in negotiating with the protesters, according to a statement issued by his office.

The Alliance for Agriculture and Co-operation sent a document to the Agricultural Ministry listing 15 demands before a planned meeting between the parties .

An alliance representative said after today’s talks that the agriculture minister approved many of the farmers’ requests and that the protests would “probably” be suspended.

Before the meeting, the alliance had threatened to “urgently initiate” steps to expand the demonstrations if a series of deadlines weren’t met.

Romania’s national traffic police advised drivers to avoid areas where protests are being held to help ease traffic flows.