Annie Genevard retains the Ministry of Agriculture and the major challenges that go with it

Several hot files are still on the desk of the Minister of Agriculture, some of which have been slowed down by the dissolution of the National Assembly, then by the censorship of the Barnier government.

Farmers do not change their supervisory minister. Annie Genevard was reappointed head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty on Monday, December 23, by François Bayrou. A portfolio that comes with its share of hot issues, against the backdrop of the agricultural crisis in France.

For the FNSEA and Young Farmers, the two main agricultural unions, the minister is “aware of the urgency of the situation and expectations” et “must honor the commitments made to the agricultural world for more than a year”partly blocked by the dissolution of the National Assembly then the censorship of the Barnier government. Its “renewal must ensure continuity on agricultural issues. This appointment is a form of response to the need for visibility and consistency expressed by farmers”the two organizations welcomed on Monday in a joint press release.

The FNSEA, the leading French agricultural union, asked MPs not to vote for censure of the government at the beginning of December. “PFor the agricultural world to obtain the promises that have been made to it, we need a budget“explained its president, Arnaud Rousseau, during the winter universities of Young Farmers, in Dordogne, Wednesday December 4, after the censorship. “We are talking about nearly 400 million euros to provide answers to farmers.”, he had clarified.

The main agricultural union is calling for these measures to be put back in the future finance bill. This concerns, for example, the perpetuation of the reduced rate tax on non-road diesel (GNR) used for agricultural machinery. This was the first demand of the great mobilizations of last winter. There was also the reform of agricultural pensions for a calculation over the best 25 years.

Other texts will have to be studied, such as the agricultural orientation bill rewritten after the anger at the beginning of the year, blocked since the dissolution of the National Assembly. The Barnier government did not have time to put it back on the agenda. Farmers are also awaiting compensation from breeders affected by bluetongue.

Another hot topic, the proposed free trade treaty between the European Union and the Mercosur countries in South America, considered unfavorable for European farmers. Brussels has declared the end of the negotiations. France, opposed to its final signature, is trying to block it. Annie Genevard said to herself “extremely skeptical about the relevance of this agreement”early December. Less than two months before the Agricultural Show, the unions are demanding clear action.