DIRECT. Anger of farmers: After the blockage was lifted, traffic resumed on the A9 motorway in Boulou… Follow the evolution of the situation

Very disrupted traffic between La Jonquera and Le Boulou

While the blockage was lifted this midday at the Boulou toll barrier, traffic is gradually resuming in the Spain-France direction. However, the Catalan authorities warn that traffic is very difficult, particularly between La Jonquera and Le Boulou.

After the blockade is lifted, traffic resumes

The A9 motorway is reopened to traffic in the direction of Narbonne-Lyon this Wednesday, November 20 at 12:45 p.m., Vinci Autoroutes announces in a press release. Since Tuesday, the axis has been occupied by demonstrators obstructing the Perthus toll lanes of the A9 motorway.

Traffic nevertheless remains disrupted, in both directions of traffic.

Boulou blockade lifted, farmers hope to be received at the prefecture

This Wednesday noon, the farmers of the Rural Coordination announced the unblocking of the border and the suspension of their action. News which should relieve the affected department’s carriers, as well as the Saint-Charles international market in Perpignan, which had been virtually at a standstill since Tuesday.

“Disappointed that the other unions did not join them,” regretted Philippe Maydat, president of Rural Coordination 66, the farmers headed to the Pyrénées-Orientales prefecture where a delegation should be received by the prefect.

750 trucks blocked on the Spanish side of the highway

Around 750 trucks are stopped in Alt Empordà due to farmers’ protests at the border in Boulou. The vehicles were distributed in mega-parking lots in the surrounding area while waiting for traffic to be restored on the AP-7.

“We were expecting reinforcements from other unions”… Towards the end of the blockade at Boulou?

Philippe Maydat, head of the Rural Coordination of the Pyrénées-Orientales, reacted this Wednesday morning on BFM TV to the comments of the Minister of Agriculture and he did not rule out the lifting of the Boulou blockade. “We are going to negotiate, we are tired and we were waiting for reinforcements from other unions but sometimes, I have the impression that at the ministry, the orders come directly from the majority union,” mocked Philippe Maydat, targeting the FNSEA.

Blocking the border “is not acceptable” for the Minister of Agriculture

Guest of France 2, this Wednesday morning, Annie Genevard, Minister of Agriculture called for an end to the Rural Coordination movement while the FNSEA calls for a future mobilization from next Tuesday. “I say this to the members of the Rural Coordination who, in six departments of France (Monday) evening, engaged in acts of degradation, of blockage at the Spanish border,” said Ms. Genevard, adding that this could “dissipate ” the “movement of sympathy that the French have for farmers”.

Tuesday evening, Serge Bousquet-Cassagne, figure of this union in the South-West, was very offensive. “We are going to block the A9, but also fuel depots, ports, purchasing centers. We want to cause chaos and a food shortage.” On the A9, “a river of fruits and vegetables arriving from Spain”, he said he was considering “a lasting blockage (…) over several days”.

The FNSEA dissociates itself from the actions of Rural Coordination

“When we are in charge, threatening chaos on an agricultural level is neither our DNA nor our will. Calling for chaos, I consider that to be totally irresponsible,” said Arnaud Rousseau, the president of the FNSEA, the main agricultural union.

Arnaud Rousseau clarified that he was “not there to comment on what rural coordination is doing. If some people think that chaos is the future of agriculture, they will take their responsibilities.”

For the boss of the FNSEA, “everyone is at the end of their rope”. “Farmers do not have the impression that, since spring, things are progressing as they should because they do not see the solutions arriving in their farmyards” and, “when you are at your wits’ end, call chaos, it’s totally irresponsible.”

The A9 motorway still cut in Boulou

This Wednesday morning, traffic was still cut off on the A9 at the Perthus toll gate in the Spain-Narbonne direction due to the presence of demonstrators, mainly from the Rural Coordination, indicated the Vinci Autoroutes services. In the France-Spain direction, traffic also remained disrupted this Wednesday morning. Diversions have been put in place.