HUNDREDS of people protested in the streets of Warsaw at the weekend against free-trade agreements that the European Union is pursuing with the US and Canada.
A rally organised by non-governmental group Akcja Democracja, with backing from trade unions and several small opposition parties, forecast that they will harm Polish farmers and consumers.
The protesters argue that the TTIP and CETA deals will allow an influx of food from North America that will destroy local farming and allow entry of genetically modified food.
MARK HAZELDEN criticises the Western narrative that the incident was an escalation of Russia’s confrontation with the West, given that Belarus, a Russian ally, warned Poland of off-course drones, and the drones were unarmed, cheap wooden decoys
US tariffs have had Von der Leyen bowing in submission, while comments from the former European Central Bank leader call for more European political integration and less individual state sovereignty. All this adds up to more pain and austerity ahead, argues NICK WRIGHT


