Maltese farmers are set to join their European counterparts in protesting “against the European Union’s current framework and future ambitions that are seriously threatening the livelihoods of farmers,” a statement by the Active Farmers Association (Ghaqda Bdiewa Attivi) said Thursday.

The protest will take the form of a rally using agricultural and non-agricultural vehicles which will start in Ta’ Qali at 11.30am on Friday, and finishing in Floriana at 1pm.

The association said its protest is supported by various other sectors in the local food chain.

The event will be in the form of a rally of agricultural and non-agricultural vehicles that will leave the Ta’ Qali car park adjacent to the farmers’ market and drive towards Floriana passing through Attard, Mosta, Lija, Birkirkara, Msida and Pieta` until finally arriving in Floriana (Triq Sarria) where vehicles will be parked and a press conference held.

Similar protests have been held across the EU for most of the week. Farmers blocked more traffic arteries across Belgium, France and Italy on Wednesday, as they sought to disrupt trade at major ports and other economic lifelines.

Convoys with hundreds of angry farmers driving heavy-duty tractors arrived at European Union headquarters, bent on getting their complaints about excessive costs, rules and bureaucracy heard by EU leaders at a summit Thursday.