Fuel price protests hit Brussels

By Julien Ponthus

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian farmers, truckers and taxi drivers staged protests against soaring fuel prices on Wednesday, the latest in a series of demonstrations across Europe and Asia as oil has hit record highs on world markets.

Hundreds of tractors clogged traffic as they converged on Brussels, while truckers and taxi drivers staged a go-slow on the city's inner ring road.

The protests came a day before European Union leaders meet in the city to discuss how to tackle the high cost of oil.

Amid growing anger at the price of fuel, protests by truckers, fishermen and others have erupted from Spain to India, South Korea and Nepal in recent weeks.

A fuel protest two weeks ago by French and Italian fishermen in Brussels turned violent, while British truckers jammed a major highway leading into London.

"The cost of petrol is so high that we have nothing left to live on. It represents 47 percent of our income," said Marc Thomas, a self-employed truck driver in Brussels.

Belgian farmers say rising fuel prices are driving up costs while global competition is cutting the price of their products.

"We have had it up to here. We just can't make ends meet with the prices at which we sell our products," said Anne-Marie Tasiaux, head of a regional farmers' union which distributed free milk and eggs to passers-by in the centre of Brussels.

Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme could promise farmers only limited financial help but he pledged to press the European Commission not to make concessions on agriculture in world trade negotiations that would damage local farmers.

"I will not allow markets to be opened up to the detriment of agriculture," he told demonstrating farmers.

STRICT RULES

The EU has strict rules about aid that member states can offer to industries or companies, but Paris and other capitals want the European Commission to be more responsive to the problems of those hit by rising fuel prices.

On Tuesday, ministers from seven EU countries urged more state aid for fishermen affected by fuel price hikes.

The European Commission has adopted proposals for some limited, emergency measures to help the fishing sector.

At a summit on Thursday and Friday, EU leaders are set to express concern at the oil price surge but will say measures to alleviate their impact should be "short-term and targeted", according to a draft summit communique.