EU farmers protest milk prices in Brussels

Farmers in Belgium have stormed into Brussels on tractors in protest over the price of milk, holding up traffic for hours.



Dairy farmers from across Europe have gathered in the Belgian capital to demonstrate against low milk prices ahead of a planned EU overhaul of its Common Agricultural Policy that has historically set tight restrictions on food pricing and production.



Scuffles broke out later in the evening between protesters and police stationed outside the EU Parliament in Brussels with demonstrators spraying milk at the building in anger.



Demonstrators are demanding a 25% increase in the price of milk which is currently often sold for less than the cost of production. Many have camped out overnight and plan to continue protests.



Agriculture remains one of the most sheltered economic sectors in the EU but despite efforts by European leaders it has still been badly hit by the global financial crisis which has forced demand to fall dramatically.



Farmers are hoping for increased subsidies to help them weather the economic storm.