As the European elections on June 9 approach, local stakeholders in the Aude department are revealing their expectations for the next term in the European Parliament. Review.
At 8 p.m. on Sunday June 9, the results of the 2024 European elections will be displayed. Thus plunging the European Parliament into a new mandate. In Aude, five local actors explained what they expect from Europe the day after the election. Expectation, doubt or even fear for some, these personalities of the department in their field deliver a heterogeneous feeling for this next mandate. Explanations.
Sébastien Gaubert, president of the Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales local fisheries committee
The Independent – PHILIPPE LEBLANC
Sébastien Gaubert expresses a wish for future elected European parliamentarians: “Let them come and see the fishermen and listen to them on the ground”. According to him, parliament is too far removed from the realities and challenges of French fishing. “We only see the elected officials and candidates during the campaign, a month before the vote”, he regrets. For the next mandate, he fears yet another tightening within the framework of the management plans which will be discussed at the end of the year, West Med, in particular which concerns the Mediterranean. “The financial balance of the auctions is already precarious. New constraints for trawler fishing which provides 80% of the inputs while the 140 small businesses only account for 20% could put the entire sector in great danger. And the trawler owners will want to continue fishing in the event of reconversion, it is coastal fishing which will be overloaded., explains Sébastien Gaubert. Another reason for concern: the threats weighing on eel fishing and the environmentalist lobby which is calling for its ban. “Scientists are not enemies. And in fact, their work shows that the recruitment of glass eels (juvenile eels) in the Mediterranean is increasingly high. Afterwards, the EU sees no solution other than to hit the fishermen, without even know that we did not wait until after her to impose our own constraints. Once again, let them come and listen to us so that the future common fisheries policy takes into account the specificities of the facades!declares the fisherman from Gruissan.
Gilles Bourguignon, president of Narbonne Ukraine
“Personally, I would say that we must continue to support Ukraine and provide as many weapons as possible so that this country can defend itself, defend Europe, freedom and democracy. Today there is a real awareness It is a real human drama that is being played out, far from false information, we are in contact with the city of Mikolayev, and we are experiencing the progress of the conflict through 65 refugee families still housed with us: They cannot return, either because they have lost everything, or because their accommodation is currently in an occupied zone or too close to the front line. Our support is vital.
Yann Vétiis, coordinator of the Confédération Paysanne Aude
The subject of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) carried out at European level returns to the table. The coordinator of the Confédération Paysanne Aude, Yann Vétiis, details his point of view on the subject: “Within our union, we would like there to be another CAP offer instead of having the current one which favors areas and not farmers”, he laments. And to specify that, according to him, the current CAP does not support food sovereignty. “It does not help consumers or farmers. If the far right becomes the majority, change will be all the more complicated.”
Jérôme Barthès, vice-president of the FDSEA in Aude
The majority union in the agricultural sector, the FNSEA was at the heart of the demonstrations in January. Europe and more particularly its common agricultural policy were particularly singled out, sometimes in a heated manner. While the tension has gone down a notch, dismay is still present among the departmental representatives of the FDSEA. This is the case of Jérôme Barthès, Aude vice-president of this union. “You want to know? I don’t expect anything from the next European mandate”he breathes, disillusioned by “a crisis that has not stopped for 10 months”. “There is an increasingly harsh policy regarding phytosanitary products. Today, we are reaching an impasse and there is no solution”deplores the one who is waiting for answers from MEPs without believing in a positive start the day after the election.
Jean-Marie Fabre, president of the independent winegrowers of France
The Independent – PHILIPPE LEBLANC
Jean-Marie Fabre, president of the Independent Winegrowers of France, has a lot to say about the European Union. “We often hear this debate, more or less Europe? Personally, I believe that we need more Europe. We are waiting for MEPs to make viticulture one of the major issues”specifies the one who regularly exchanges with the State and European parliamentarians. “We must consolidate and perform our economy, less relocatable, which enriches and develops our sector”he adds, affirming that the major challenge remains drought and climate change. “It is not only Europe but the world that is concerned. These changes are observed on the Mediterranean side but they will continue to move. The European Parliament must go further and create a safety net for the sectors impacted.”
