Thousands of farmers block major Madrid thoroughfare with tractors

Spanish farmers, who like many across Europe have been protesting against EU agricultural policy, on Monday blocked a major boulevard in the capital Madrid in what was their biggest action to date.

Thousands of protesters from across the country gathered in front of the European Commission's representation in the Spanish capital calling for fairer prices, among other demands.

Numerous tractors blocked the Paseo de la Castellana, one of the city's major thoroughfares.

Associations of farmers and livestock breeders, who had organized the protests, put the number of participants at 20,000, while the authorities spoke of around 5,000 demonstrators.

The protest comes as farmers across Europe, including in Poland and Greece, have been demonstrating for weeks against the EU's agricultural policies.

In Brussels, convoys of farmers protesting agricultural regulations and food imports occupied the EU quarter in the Belgian capital on Monday, blocking roads and lighting fires.

Farmers in Spain, a major hub for produce in Europe, are demanding fair prices and a stronger position in the production process.

They also want the tax reduction on agricultural diesel to be upheld, stricter controls on imports from non-EU countries and a reduction in environmental regulations and bureaucracy in order to receive EU agricultural aid.

The country's left-wing government has already made several concessions including a package of 18 measures, including closer supervision of the food supply chain and a restriction on imports from external markets last week.

However, many farmers consider them insufficient.