Tractors block a highway north of Paris, but two large farmers' Trade unions have now called for the blockade to be suspended. Photo: MICHEL EULER/AP
France's two largest farm unions called on Thursday for an end to the blockade besieging Paris and other cities after the government announced a halt to food imports.
“We decided that At this time, given everything that has been announced… we need to change our modus operandi and we therefore call on our networks… to suspend the blockades and embark on a new form of mobilization, said Arnaud Guyot, head of the Jeunes Agriculteurs (Young Farmers) trade union. , together with Arnaud Rousseau, head of FNSEA.
This week, two unions joined forces to block all major entrances to Paris, and the smaller Union Rural Coordination took even more militant action by attempting to storm Europe's largest fresh produce market, Rungis, resulting in 91 arrests. .
The call to end the blockade came as Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced that France would protect its farmers from the “law of the jungle” by ensuring food independence and tightening controls on imports.
1,300 tractors flock to Europe parliament in Brussels from across the continent to protest against environmental regulations. Attal said he wants to “better recognize the farming profession,” “protect against unfair competition,” and “bring back the value of our food.”< /p>
Emmanuel Macron was in Brussels for talks with Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, to discuss «the future of European agriculture» ahead of an EU summit in the city on Thursday.
Mr Macron told reporters after the summit that France had succeeded in persuading the EU to “impose stricter rules” on grain and poultry imports, including from Ukraine.
Mr Macron called for a “concrete and tangible simplification” of EU bureaucratic red tape “from the end of February «.
Meanwhile, speaking in France, Mr Attal proposed measures including an annual payment of 150 million euros to livestock farmers and a ban on the import of food treated with thiacloprid, a neonicotinoid pesticide already banned in France.
He added that the government will stop. introducing stricter environmental regulations than required by the EU.
A man piles hay into set fire pallets during a protest by French farmers against the A16 Highway due to price pressures, taxes and environmental regulations. Photo: STEPHANIE LECOQ/REUTERS
Pledging to protect agriculture «from the law of the jungle and unfair competition», he also ruled out a trade deal with South American countries that farmers fear would undermine their economies.
He also promised to ensure clear European policies. a broad definition of lab-grown meat.
Bruno Le Maire, the finance minister, added that all major supermarkets will be checked to ensure compliance with the law, which should ensure fair prices for farm products.
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And there will be a pause in France's national plan to reduce pesticide use, said Marc Fesneau, the agriculture minister.
FNSEA's Mr Rousseau said that after Mr Attal's «failed and unfinished actions» last year On Friday, “we were heard on a number of issues, and we made tangible progress.”
“But there are also things that are not there that need to be clarified,” he added.
In particular, Mr Russo said he was «sensitive to the announcement of emergency measures relating to LNG, health and climate compensation, and the rapid payment of the final subsidies» under the Common Agricultural Policy.
On Thursday, farmers took their protests to Brussels with a demonstration at Place Luxembourg. Photo: CYRIL MARCILLASI/BLOOMBERG
The president of France's largest farmers' union also welcomed Mr Attal's pledge to move «toward sovereignty, production and a self-sufficient agricultural policy.»
Reaffirming his “attachment to Europe,” Mr. Rousseau denounced its technocracy and tone-deaf tendencies, as well as “decisions taken from afar and disrespecting the work of farmers.”
“We obviously understand that European projects can take time and we cannot change the rules in a matter of days, but for now it is very important that heads of state and government understand: if we want to protect Europe… then we must have the opportunity to do this with men and women who want to move forward,” said Mr. Russo.
“This battle for our agriculture, for all of us, is inextricably linked to the future of what is happening in Europe «.
At a time when the European Commission proposed measures to limit the import of Ukrainian agricultural products, he said: “For more than a year we have hesitated on the issue of importing agricultural products, and now we are waiting for strong decisions that will protect the European internal market.» .
Mr Guyot said: “From Monday we are going to start working in prefectures and ministries to work through all the announced points, see how they are applied and how we can ensure that they will actually be implemented in places».
He said union leaders were asking for a document summarizing the statements and for “getting this [agricultural policy] bill through parliament and putting the whole European part into effect.”
If there is no progress, he added: “We will not hesitate to join a large-scale protest movement.”
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