The farmers’ protest at Brucargo, the cargo area of Brussels Airport, ended on Saturday morning, restoring full access and easing traffic congestion after nearly two days of disruption, airport authorities confirmed.
In a statement issued by Brussels Airport, officials said that farmers began leaving the Brucargo site by 6:00 am on Saturday.
By 8:00 am, the area was fully accessible again, with traffic flows returning to normal levels. The end of the blockade brought relief to logistics operators and commuters who had faced delays since the protest began.
The demonstration started on Thursday evening, when groups of farmers set up so-called “filter blockades” around the cargo zone.
Trucks and other vehicles were only allowed to pass intermittently, leading to long queues, delivery delays, and congestion in one of Belgium’s most important logistics hubs.
Brucargo plays a critical role in air freight operations, handling goods ranging from pharmaceuticals to fresh produce.
At the heart of the protest was opposition to the Mercosur trade agreement between the European Union and the South American bloc comprising Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil.
Farmers argue that the agreement could allow imports of animal products that do not meet the European Union’s strict environmental, animal welfare, and food safety standards. They fear this could place European producers at a competitive disadvantage and undermine local farming.
However, protesters stressed that their concerns go well beyond the Mercosur deal alone. Farmers have repeatedly voiced frustration over what they describe as an increasingly uncertain future for sustainable agriculture in Europe.
They point to restrictive licensing policies, heavy administrative burdens, and complex regulatory requirements that they say make it difficult for farms to remain viable.
Many farmers argue that while European policymakers promote sustainability, the regulatory framework often places disproportionate pressure on domestic producers, while imported products are perceived to face fewer constraints.
This, they say, threatens both farm incomes and the long-term resilience of Europe’s food system.
Brussels Airport said it monitored the situation closely throughout the protest and worked with authorities to ensure safety and minimize disruption. While cargo operations were affected by delays, no major security incidents were reported during the demonstration.
The protest at Brucargo forms part of a broader wave of farmer demonstrations seen across several European countries in recent months.
From Brussels to Paris and beyond, agricultural workers have taken to the streets to express dissatisfaction with trade agreements, environmental rules, and rising production costs.
Although the blockade has ended, farmer organizations have signaled that protests could continue elsewhere if their concerns are not addressed. For now, normal operations have resumed at Brussels Airport, but the issues raised by the farmers remain firmly on the political agenda.