Farmers back on the roads of France. Almost a year after a historic mobilization, agricultural unions are calling for demonstrations starting this Monday, November 18. Their uneasiness has not disappeared since the great mobilization last winter and it is fueled today by Mercosur, the trade agreement that Europe wants to sign with the countries of South America.
Under discussion for more than twenty years, this free trade treaty between the EU and the Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) must be once again on the discussion table during the G20, which will begin this November 18 in Brazil. If concluded, it would create the largest free trade zone on the planet, with a market encompassing 780 million people.
Germany and Spain are in favor. France opposes it. In recent days, 600 French parliamentarians have launched an appeal to Ursula von der Leyen, published in the columns of Le Monde, to denounce an agreement which, according to them, does not respect the democratic, economic, environmental and social criteria set by the National Assembly and the Senate. Is the European Commission ready to provoke “a democratic explosion in France, a country already under the threat of anti-European populism” warn elected officials. The executive, for its part, is trying to veto this agreement by setting up a blocking minority while the agricultural world, already in bad shape, is worried about seeing massive imports of meat and cereals at knockdown prices and which will not have the obligation to respect the standards in force in the Old Continent.
An angry profession which has already planned multiple actions from this weekend, before a rise in mobilization next week to, they say, “prevent the future death of French agriculture”. On the farms, farmers do not hide their disgust after last year's promises. Foreign competition, standards, controls, prices… They believe that most of the problems raised last winter are still relevant and still require the guarantee of a decent income.
Tension is rising and it could spread to other sectors while after Auchan and Michelin, a wave of social plans threatens, particularly in the automobile sector. The sector is affected by the decline in sales on the continent, low-cost Chinese competition and the slow pace of electrification.
So why does the EU want this agreement with Mercosur? What is the position of the French government and other countries? What could this treaty change for the French agricultural sector, already in bad shape? Where are the measures announced by the government last year for the agricultural world? In terms of social plans, which sectors are particularly concerned? For what ? Are we heading towards a winter of anger?
The experts:
– Emmanuel DUTEIL – Editorial Director – The New Factory
– Cécile CORNUDET – Political editorialist at Echoes
– FANNY GUINOCHET – Economic columnist – France Info et The Tribune
– Gaëlle MACKE – Deputy Editorial Director – Challenges
