Farmers hurl eggs, stones at European Parliament 

Farmers say they are not being paid enough, are choked by taxes and green rules and face unfair competition from abroad.

They threw eggs and stones at the European Parliament on Thursday amid protests to press a summit of European Union leaders to do more to help them with taxes and rising costs.

The farmers also started fires near the building and setting off fireworks.

Protesters tried to tear down the barriers erected in front of parliament – a few blocks from where the summit was taking place – but police pushed them back with water hoses. Police also fired tear gas.

A local official said a statue on the square where farmers were gathered near the parliament with their tractors was damaged.

Major thoroughfares in Brussels, the heart of the European Union, were blocked by around 1,300 tractors, according to a police estimate.

Security personnel in riot gear stood guard behind barriers where the leaders were meeting at European Council headquarters.