"Without farmers there is no countryside, and without the countryside there is no Menorca."

Just over a hundred farmers gathered this Thursday at midday at the Mercadal fairgrounds to reject the cuts the European Union wants to apply to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), to say enough is enough to "empty promises" and excessive bureaucracy from the administrations, and above all, to demand recognition of their unique island needs. The manifesto, read by the presidents of Agrame, Luis Nadal; Fagme, Catalina Pons; and Unió de Pagesos, Margalida Llambias, calls for "justice" in the form of fair prices that provide greater profitability for farms, decisive support for local production and the Menorcan agri-food industry, and agricultural policies that guarantee generational renewal and a future for the sector. "Without farmers there is no countryside, and without countryside there is no Menorca," they chanted in unison, to the applause of the attendees and the dozen or so tractors that had traveled to the center of the island. Unlike previous protests and tractor demonstrations that years ago brought the main road to a standstill, this time the agricultural organizations and cooperatives of Menorca opted for a "responsible" demonstration, without blocking the island's activity, but making their voices heard. "Responsible" protest

"We are here to defend our right to live off the land, to produce quality food, and to continue caring for the territory, the landscape, and food sovereignty," they announced. But they also complained about the "critical situation" they face, where "the lack of profitability of farms, the constant increase in production costs, bureaucratic and regulatory pressure, and unfair competition from international trade agreements are suffocating the countryside."

The sector denounces that the double insularity, which is not sufficiently compensated, "condemns us to structural inequality. We are an island within an island, with permanent additional costs that are neither temporary nor exceptional." This causes such "evident inequality" that it forces them to compete while having to bear "much higher" costs.

Against the new CAP and "unfair competition"

The heavy reliance on European aid and the announcement of a new Strategic Economic Policy (SEP) "with less budget, less ambition, and less common ground condemn small producers." For this reason, they jointly reject a review of European policies designed "to suit large states and far removed from the realities of the territory" and demand "explicit recognition of insularity and double insularity." The EU-Mercosur agreement, which will allow the entry onto the island of "products produced with lower health, environmental, labor, and animal welfare standards" than those required in Menorca, constitutes, in their view, "unfair competition. This is not free trade," they declared, demanding oversight. The People's Party (PP) and Más joined them.

Around fifteen politicians joined the farmers' protest. Led by Councilor Maria Antònia Taltavull and Island Director Alicia Martí, PP (People's Party) officials were the majority at the event: from State Deputy Joan Mesquida to regional deputies and the mayor of Ferreries, Pere Pons. The PSM-Més per Menorca (Socialist Party of Menorca-More for Menorca) was also present, with regional deputy Joana Gomila and the mayor of El Mercadal, Joan Manel Palliser, among others. In contrast, no PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) officials were seen. The Minister of Economy, Maria Antònia Taltavull, justified her attendance by citing her dual role as a farmer and the highest-ranking official responsible for agricultural management in Menorca. In fact, she concluded the event by posing for a photograph, amidst the protesters, alongside representatives of the agricultural organizations that convened the demonstration. This is the result of negotiations and visits carried out on Wednesday by the Balearic Minister for Agriculture, Joan Simonet, which will culminate in a proposal that the PP government in the Menorca Island Council will bring for approval at the next plenary session. Taltavull has indicated that the proposal will include the main demands of Menorcan farmers, which, "with good coordination with the Balearic Government," he hopes to be able to convey "to higher authorities." "The priority is to make it clear in Europe and in Madrid that Menorca is not like other territories and needs special treatment."