France’s farmers have been protesting for more money and less bureaucracy for days. Now French Prime Minister Attal has made numerous concessions to the farmers. Agricultural unions are calling for the protests to be temporarily ended.
After further promises of aid from the government, France’s largest agricultural unions are calling for a temporary end to the blockades by farmers. Instead of blocking, the ministries and local authorities want to work on the points announced by the government, said Arnaud Gaillot from the young farmers’ union, Jeunes Agriculteurs. The protests should be suspended.
Arnaud Rousseau from the FNSEA union made it clear: “The movement does not stop, it changes.” The trade unionists want to check whether the government is serious before the “Salon International de l’Agriculture” trade fair in Paris at the end of February. Longer-term measures should be in place by June.
If this is not the case, we will not hesitate to mobilize again on a large scale. Rousseau also warned: “If we find that all this was just a showmanship, the result will be catastrophic.”
Attal approaches the farmers
Shortly before, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal presented a new package of measures at a press conference in Paris that is intended to address farmers’ concerns. Attal promised that no pesticides that were approved elsewhere in the EU would be banned in France. With this statement he responded to a demand from French farmers who complained about stricter regulations on pesticides in France than in neighboring countries.
Attal also announced that France will now ban imports from countries outside the EU of fruit and vegetables treated with thiacloprid – an insecticide currently banned in the EU. France will propose the creation of a European control force to combat fraud, particularly in the area of health regulations, and to crack down on the import of food that contradicts European and French health standards, the Prime Minister announced.
Grants, loans and Tax cuts
Attal also reiterated the EU’s rejection of a free trade agreement with the South American trading area Mercosur. In addition, Attal announced 150 million euros in aid for livestock breeders and a reduction in taxes for businesses that are passed on from older generations to descendants.
Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau, speaking at the press conference after Attal, announced a €2 billion package to provide loans to future farmers.
Farmers in France have been putting pressure on the government for days with protests such as highway blockades to respond to their demands for better pay for their produce, less bureaucracy and protection against cheap imports.
Stefanie Markert, ARD Paris, tagesschau, February 1st, 2024 7:46 p.m