STORY: Farmers protest EU trade policies in Warsaw 
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 3, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 4, 2025
LENGTH: 00:02:03
LOCATION: Warsaw 
CATEGORY: SOCIETY 

SHOTLIST:
1. SOUNDBITE (English): KAROL NAWROCKI, Head of Poland's Institute of National Remembrance and presidential candidate of the Law and Justice Party  
2. various of the protest

STORYLINE:

Farmers' organizations took to the streets of central Warsaw on Friday to protest against European Union (EU) trade and agriculture policies.

The protest began in the early afternoon near the Representation of the European Commission in Poland. A massive crowd assembled in the streets, carrying Polish national flags and banners.

Later, protesters started to march through the streets.

SOUNDBITE (English): KAROL NAWROCKI, Head of Poland's Institute of National Remembrance and presidential candidate of the Law and Justice Party 
"I will cherish Polish farmers of course and I stand still in this case, which Polish agriculture is very important for Polish economy."

According to farmer.pl website, the march has been organized by Poland's alliance of agricultural organizations to denounce the "harmful policies of the European Union."

Demonstrators oppose the EU's trade agreement with the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) countries, as well as the Green Deal, imports from Ukraine, and the "destruction of Polish forests and hunting."

Polish Agriculture Minister Czeslaw Siekierski said on Friday he expects the protesters to submit detailed demands.

He stressed that the Polish government is unequivocally opposed to concluding an agreement with Mercosur on agricultural issues, and that it is attempting to build a blocking minority against this agreement.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Warsaw.
(XHTV)