this is what the mobilization will look like in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais

From Sunday November 17, 2024, the mobilization of farmers at the call of different unions begins in France. Many actions are planned for Monday November 18 in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais. Early in the morning, farmers will gather in front of the regional prefecture in Lille, before fires of anger are lit in various points of the territory in the evening.

At the start of the year, farmers had already mobilized. Remember, they blocked certain highways in France. Farmers always denounce administrative burden and their low income.

Furthermore, the year's poor harvests, losses linked to new animal diseases and the probable signing of the free trade agreement with the Latin American Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay) are fueling their anger. . In this context, the National Federation of Farmers' Unions (FNSEA) and the Young Farmers (JA) have decided to relaunch the movement “we walk on our heads”.

Monday, November 18, farmers should go, without tractors, from 6 a.m. in front of the regional prefecture, in Lille (North), Place de la République. They planned to drop the flags of Mercosur countries as a sign of protest.

It is urgent that the new government takes care of farmers!

David Meurillon, president of the FDSEA 59

An action that the FDSEA wants “good-natured, with respect for property and people”, says David Meurillon, president of the union in the North. He adds: “the objective is for us to talk about our problems. There were some “measures” after the mobilization this winter, but many things did not come to fruition with the dissolution, it is urgent that the new government takes care of the farmers!”.

In the evening of Sunday November 17, 2024Young Farmers and the FDSEA are considering a symbolic action. Place stickers on town signs throughout the region. Of the stickers in the colors of the Latin American countries in the process of signing a free trade agreement with the European Union. They will also rename certain municipalities.

This is one of the reasons for the anger of French farmers. David Meurilon fumes: “We are penalized with French and European standards. And we are going to import meat, poultry, honey from countries that do not have these standards. They have the possibility of injecting their meat with hormones! We have two different agricultures, there are very large farms, while for us the priority is quality and animal welfare We will not have traceability on the processed products, we will eat them. deceive the consumer.

Monday November 18, 2024 from 7 p.m.a gathering is organized in front of the DDTM (Departmental Directorate of Territories and the Sea) of Arras. The tractors will be in town, coming from all over the Pas-de-Calais department. Fires of anger will be lit on site.

The unions hope to be received by the prefect and the director of the DDTM. Lucie Delbarre, president of FDSEA 62, denounces the unkept promises after the January 2024 mobilization, particularly on administrative simplification and is annoyed: “we want results on our farms.”

This will be the highlight of this first day of remobilization of farmers. Throughout France, on strategic roundabouts, farmers will position themselves with their tractors and light the fires of anger from 7:45 p.m., Monday November 18, 2024.

David Meurillon explains: “The objective is not to block the French, the people who work… it is not a blockage, the tractors will let the cars pass. We want to draw the attention of our fellow citizens to our difficulties.”.

In the North, near Maubeuge, in Bettignies, on the border with Belgium, farmers from the two countries could join together.

A first act of a movement that could last. The farmers announce that they intend to be listened to.