Partial Agreement between Farmers, Cabinet

BETAPHOTO/AMIR HAMZAGIC

An Aug. 15 meeting of almost nine hours between disgruntled farmers and Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic concluded without a final agreement, so talks will continue in coming days.

After the meeting at the cabinet building, the farmers said milk premiums had been agreed on, and added that the two sides were well on the way to a compromise on the price of sunflower, N1 TV reported.

According to the farmers, they will not abandon their roadblock protests, but are willing to allow passableness as a token of "good will."

A farmer representative from Pancevo told reporters that the cabinet, PM, agriculture minister and assistant ministers had been constructive throughout the day and "tried to find every way to be accommodating."

Farmers are demanding EUR700 per ton of sunflower, while the government's last offer was EUR533. They also want excise tax on fuel to be lifted for farmers for up to 100 liters per hectare and the commercial margin on sunflower oil to be limited.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Aug. 15 that only legitimate demands by farmers would be met and that citizens should not pile on but help their country, which is going through a very tough time through no fault of its own.