The actions of police in the Belgian capital during this week's 1,000 Tractors to Brussels demonstrations have been subject to criticism by farming groups and European Parliament officials alike.

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Thousands of dairy farmers descended on Brussels on Monday to voice their discontent over dwindling returns and rising input costs and demand EU intervention to drive up milk prices.

Police, who blocked off access to certain areas of the European Quarter, allegedly contributed to the disruption caused by the demonstration, preventing EU officials from getting to their offices or moving around within the quarter. Amongst others, UK MEP Bill Newton Dunn is alleged to have been prevented from passing the police cordon.

Thousands of farmers, supported by hundreds of tractors took part in noise demonstrations and blockades over two days at the beginning of the week.

However, other parliament officials said the police behaved acceptably and showed restraint over the course of the demonstrations. Whilst protesting farmers burned a trailer of hay on the Place du Luxembourg and used hoses to spray EU buildings and the police on guard, police are alleged to have retaliated with teargas and pepper spray in an attempt to disperse the aggrieved farmers.

Farmers attending the protests, which were organised by the European Milk Board, said that the latest pressures they are facing threaten the viability of their business; one French farmer warned that, unless the EU acted to help them, "There will be no more small and medium producers here in five years."

The second day of protest in Brussels was reportedly calmer. Farmers commemorated their 157,000 colleagues who have abandoned farming since the last major crisis in 2009 by lighting candles. Sieta van Keimpema, Vice-President of the European Milk Board commented, "There is an answer to the closure of farms. With the aid of a flexible supply management a further bleeding of the milk market can be prevented."

Analysts have said that retail prices are being held down, as retailers and processors hold power in the supply chain, but that farm gate prices are edging slowly upwards. However, farm groups maintain that markets have been volatile and that they need security to thrive, which they are not being given under the current supply chain model.

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