The unrest demonstrated the growing tension between environmental policies and the agricultural sector's concerns, highlighting a significant challenge for the Polish government in balancing EU directives with domestic interests.
The EU's Green Deal is a set of policies designed to fight climate change and protect biodiversity - measures essential to protecting life on Earth in the long term.
The Green Deal has been protested by farmers in most EU member states over the last few months.
The Warsaw demonstration, organized by the Farmers' Solidarity trade union, began at 11 a.m. in front of the Prime Minister's Office in the city center, with protesters emphasizing their opposition to policies they claimed were harming the Polish economy.
Piotr Duda, head of the Solidarity union, criticized the government's approach to law enforcement and expressed solidarity with various professional groups, including miners and food industry workers, against the Green Deal.
"We share a common demand: down with the Green Deal, down with the Green Wall, down with the Green Venom destroying our economy," Duda said.
He called for the rejection of the Green Deal and criticized the EU for its role in global CO2 emissions.
Despite the peaceful conclusion of the farmers' assembly at 3 p.m., tensions escalated near the parliament, according to reports.
The police used tear gas and water cannons against the protesters, who pelted officers with paving stones, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
More than a dozen police officers were reported injured, and multiple arrests were made.
The protests caused significant disruptions in Warsaw, leading to roadblocks, with commuters urged to opt for public transportation.
The police reported that no serious injuries occurred among participants and bystanders.
Looking ahead, unionist Wojciech Włodarczyk announced plans for more widespread protests on March 20, targeting 16 provincial cities in a coordinated effort against the Green Deal.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Michał Kołodziejczak said he did not think "real, normal farmers were responsible for the riots in front of the parliament today," and stressed the need to set apart "provocateurs and troublemakers," the Associated Press reported.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP, IAR