The two main French agricultural unions suspend demonstrations and decide to lift roadblocks, following government announcements.
France’s two main agricultural unions announced their decision to suspend protests and lift road blockades across the country.
The president of Young Farmers, Arnaud Gaillot, spoke alongside the president of the main French agricultural union, the FNSEA, on Thursday: “We call on our members to suspend the blockades.”
The move comes just after French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal unveiled a new set of measures aimed at addressing the concerns of farmers who have demonstrated for several days across the country to denounce low wages, heavy regulations and unfair competition from abroad.
The measures announced by Gabriel Attal
“The question is currently being asked across Europe: is there a future for our agriculture? Of course, the answer is yes”declared Mr. Attal.
At roadblocks across France, protesters followed the speech on smartphones and televisions they had installed. Roadblocks were set up on eight highways around Paris, with a large police presence.
Mr Attal promised there would be no new pesticide ban “without solution” and declared that no pesticides authorized elsewhere in the EU would be banned in France. This declaration responds to a request from French farmers who have denounced stricter regulations in France on pesticide products than in neighboring countries.
Mr. Attal also announced that France was immediately banning the importation of fruits and vegetables from third countries and treated with thiacloprid, an insecticide currently banned in the European Union.
France will propose the creation of a “European control force” to fight against fraud, particularly in terms of health regulations, and to fight against the importation of food products which go against European and French health standards.
Mr. Attal also reaffirmed that France would remain opposed to the EU signing a free trade agreement with Mercosur.“There is no question of France accepting this treaty”did he declare.
The government’s objectives with the new measures announced are to “restore value to food” And “to increase farmers’ income, protect them against unfair competition and simplify their daily lives”did he declare.
Mr. Attal also announced the granting of aid of 150 million euros to breeders and a reduction in taxes on farms passed on from older generations to younger ones.
The Minister of Agriculture, Marc Fesneau, speaking after Mr. Attal, announced a budget of 2 billion euros to grant loans to people who set up as farmers.
The French government has also doubled the number of controls to sanction agri-food industrial groups and supermarkets that do not comply with the 2018 law aimed at paying a fair price to farmers. The fine can reach up to 2% of the turnover of companies that do not comply with the law.