the Bridge of Europe between France and Germany paralyzed by 300 tractors

Alsatian farmers mobilized again this Monday, November 18, against the proposed Mercosur agreement between the European Union and South America, echoing the national protest. The Europe Bridge which connects France to Germany has been symbolically blocked since 3 p.m. by more than 300 tractors.

It is a blockade of very symbolic significance which takes place this Monday, November 18 afternoon in Strasbourg. Since around 3:30 p.m., the Europe Bridge, which connects France to Germany, is blocked by several hundred tractors as part of the national mobilization of farmers launched by the majority union alliance in the sector, the FNSEA-JA. According to our latest information, between 300 and 400 agricultural machines were blocking the area at 5 p.m.

The convoys set off in the middle of the day from different points in Alsace to reach this cross-border bridge which sees around 30,000 vehicles pass per day.

At the origin of the mobilization, there is, among other things, the still burning issue of the Mercosur agreement between the European Union and an alliance of South American countries. The idea is to create a free trade zone between the two zones which would eliminate customs duties for different agricultural products, such as meat, sugar or honey for example.

Discussed for 20 years, the agreement divides the European Union between countries which say they cannot accept the text “as is”, such as France, and other states such as Germany, which sees in Mercosur a good opportunity to reinvigorate some of its key economic sectors, including the automobile industry.

Today's action on this bridge between the two EU member countries but which are divided on this agreement is therefore very symbolic for farmers, who fear unfair competition from South American countries.

“It's the opening of borders to things we don't want at home. Rules and laws are imposed on us, and we import things that do not respect these rules“, explains Virginie Ebner, a farmer from Sélestat who is participating in the movement.

Some German farmers also took part in the action with their French colleagues on the cross-border bridge, to “denounce the sell-off of European agriculture“, indicated the FDSEA of Bas-Rhin in a press release published ahead of the event. If the initial schedule of the mobilization is respected, the blockage should be lifted around 9 p.m. this Monday evening.

According to our information, the union representatives were received at the prefecture late in the afternoon. Coming out of the meeting, the union delegation announced that the day's action marked the start of a series of mobilizations, including a rally for further administrative simplification in early December, and another around the Egalim law in mid-December. .