Less than a year after a first movement of revolt, the agricultural world intends to make itself heard again.
The main unions launched actions this Sunday, November 17, which will intensify this Monday without “preventing people from going to work”.
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Agriculture under tension: anger rumbles again
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EMMANUEL MACRON
“The difficulties our farmers are experiencing today have nothing to do with Mercosur, since it has not even been signed yet,” said Emmanuel Macron. “They are linked to difficulties sector by sector, which are linked to epizootics. On this, the government, like all previous governments, supports agriculture so that they are compensated and we can vaccinate each time.”
The President of the Republic also cites “very poor harvests” and “too much regulation” as the reason for the “anger” of farmers.
EMMANUEL MACRON
“We want the rules to be fair for our producers, to be equitable,” says Emmanuel Macron. “We will continue to work with everyone. The framework with this region (the Mercosur countries) is to have an agreement which defines a good investment framework, which opens up certain areas where we have interests, which opens partnerships on critical materials, but it must not sacrifice European agriculture.”
EMMANUEL MACRON
“We will continue to work to defend our model, assures Emmanuel Macron. (…) We want to be able to produce in Europeans, and particularly in French, which is important for us, our food: it is true today. I don’t want us to give up our food sovereignty. French and European agriculture is not a factor in adjusting to bad agreements.”
EMMANUEL MACRON
“We cannot ask our French farmers to change their practices, to do without certain phytosanitary products, to have quality agriculture, and at the same time to open our market to massive imports of products which do not respect the same criteria”, continues Emmanuel Macron from Buenos Aires.
EMMANUEL MACRON
Emmanuel Macron speaks from Buenos Aires (Argentina) on the situation of farmers in France. “I made this working visit to have discussions with President Milei and several of his ministers, explains the President of the Republic. (…) I said very sincerely and very clearly the fact that the France would not sign this Mercosur treaty as it stands.
“We do not believe in the pre-agreement as it was negotiated. Firstly because it does not come from very far, because it does not take into account the developments that we have made ourselves on our own markets. For Argentina, it would be very bad for its reindustrialization, and for France it would be very bad for our agriculture.
FIRST MOBILIZATIONS
The first rallies are underway in Ile-de-France, without affecting traffic.
Farmers: first gatherings, traffic remains fluid in Ile-de-FranceSource : TF1 Info
EU-MERCOSUR AGREEMENT: THE REASONS FOR THE ANGER
Farmers are particularly mobilized against the free trade agreement that the European Commission plans to ratify with Mercosur, despite opposition from France.
WRATH OF THE FARMERS, ACT II
Agricultural unions are launching their mobilization this Sunday against a backdrop of protest against the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement. Act II of the movement started at the beginning of 2024, which results in gatherings on several roads starting this Sunday afternoon, such as in Vélizy-Villacoublay (Yvelines).
Nearly 80 departments are affected by this mobilization which should continue at the start of the week.
From Chartes to Montpellier, via Dax and Nancy, the entire territory will be concerned. Less than a year after an unprecedented movement which brought several highways to a standstill, farmers are returning to the countryside to make their demands heard. The main agricultural unions have launched a call for demonstrations starting this Sunday. “Nearly 82 actions which were recorded this morning”declared Arnaud Rousseau, president of the FNSEA, at midday, announcing that “nearly 80 departments will be in action” pour “at least 48 hours”.
“Our ambition is to draw the attention of French and European public authorities to the situation in which agriculture finds itself”he emphasizes on BFMTV (new window). In addition to denouncing bureaucracy and their low incomes, farmers also oppose the free trade agreement that the European Union intends to sign by the end of the year with the Latin American countries of Mercosur. A text that also rejects President Emmanuel Macron, who will speak about it to his counterparts concerned this week during his tour of Argentina, Brazil and Chile.
That it slows down traffic is likely.
Arnaud Rousseau on actions on the N118
Arnaud Rousseau warns that actions will be taken “mainly in prefectures and sub-prefectures” as well as on certain roundabouts, “with the desire not to block the French”. “The ambition is not to prevent people from going to work”he insists. “We need to call the French to witness the situation in agriculture. The objective is obviously not to bore them, it is to send them the message that it is an emergency situation “he adds. In the Paris region, the N118 is the subject of a first assembly, this Sunday, near Vélizy. “That it slows down traffic is likely”notes the president of the FNSEA.
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Special surveillance has been put in place by law enforcement at certain key entrances to Paris as well as on the A86, A10 and A104 motorways. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau warns that he will apply a “zero tolerance” in case of “long-lasting blockage” roads. If the right to demonstrate is guaranteed by the Constitution, the minister mentioned “three limits: no damage to property, no damage to people, and no encystment”. Questioned during the RTL/M6/Le Figaro/Public Senate Grand Jury, he said he hired the “dialogue” with trade union organizations, “precisely to be able to avoid slippages”.
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