French Farmers Intensify Protests Over Price Pressures, Taxes, and Green Regulations
Source: The DairyNews
French farmers' frustration over price pressures, taxes, and green regulations has escalated, prompting threats of expanded protests as they prepare to meet with the government, writes Reuters.
The grievances, shared by farmers across Europe, include concerns about a government tax on tractor fuel, cheap imports, water storage issues, price pressures from retailers, and bureaucratic red tape.
Arnaud Gaillot, head of the Young Farmers union, expressed the general sentiment of being fed up, stating that without satisfactory answers, convincing farmers to end their protests would be challenging. Last week, farmers in France, inspired by similar actions in Germany, blocked roads in various regions.
President Emmanuel Macron is cautious about farmers aligning with far-right support ahead of the European Parliament elections in June. The government has temporarily halted a draft farming law, awaiting input from farming representatives to incorporate additional measures supporting the sector.
France's largest farm union FNSEA is contemplating nationwide protests in the coming weeks. Arnaud Rousseau, FNSEA's leader, announced a series of actions starting immediately and continuing for as long as necessary. In response, farmers declared plans to block roads leading to the Golfech nuclear plant in the southwest.
Farming policy is a sensitive issue in France, the EU's largest agricultural producer, with thousands of independent producers of wine, meat, and dairy. Farmers, known for disruptive protests, argue that their livelihoods are at risk as food retailers intensify pressure to lower prices.
Jordan Bardella, president of Marine Le Pen’s far-right Rassemblement National, expressed support for farmers, emphasizing their role in France's identity. Many farmers fear the impact of inflation and the potential spillover from protests in Germany, Poland, and Romania.
In response to the protests, the government withdrew a draft farming law scheduled for debate and invited farming representatives for talks. Farmers' leaders seek assurances from Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and Farming Minister Marc Fesneau regarding the enforcement of a special law aimed at stabilizing farming revenues.
Gaillot called for a regulatory pause, citing excessive bureaucracy consuming farmers' time, and criticized carbon emission regulations as excessive. The farmers warn of a potential large-scale movement if their concerns are not addressed promptly.
Fesneau, while acknowledging the need to speed up processes, assured that the draft law, including measures to cut red tape, would still be tabled in the first half of the year. He highlighted the government's responsiveness to farmers' demands, such as easing restrictions on water use in response to water scarcity during the summer.
Arnaud Gaillot, head of the Young Farmers union, expressed the general sentiment of being fed up, stating that without satisfactory answers, convincing farmers to end their protests would be challenging. Last week, farmers in France, inspired by similar actions in Germany, blocked roads in various regions.
President Emmanuel Macron is cautious about farmers aligning with far-right support ahead of the European Parliament elections in June. The government has temporarily halted a draft farming law, awaiting input from farming representatives to incorporate additional measures supporting the sector.
France's largest farm union FNSEA is contemplating nationwide protests in the coming weeks. Arnaud Rousseau, FNSEA's leader, announced a series of actions starting immediately and continuing for as long as necessary. In response, farmers declared plans to block roads leading to the Golfech nuclear plant in the southwest.
Farming policy is a sensitive issue in France, the EU's largest agricultural producer, with thousands of independent producers of wine, meat, and dairy. Farmers, known for disruptive protests, argue that their livelihoods are at risk as food retailers intensify pressure to lower prices.
Jordan Bardella, president of Marine Le Pen’s far-right Rassemblement National, expressed support for farmers, emphasizing their role in France's identity. Many farmers fear the impact of inflation and the potential spillover from protests in Germany, Poland, and Romania.
In response to the protests, the government withdrew a draft farming law scheduled for debate and invited farming representatives for talks. Farmers' leaders seek assurances from Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and Farming Minister Marc Fesneau regarding the enforcement of a special law aimed at stabilizing farming revenues.
Gaillot called for a regulatory pause, citing excessive bureaucracy consuming farmers' time, and criticized carbon emission regulations as excessive. The farmers warn of a potential large-scale movement if their concerns are not addressed promptly.
Fesneau, while acknowledging the need to speed up processes, assured that the draft law, including measures to cut red tape, would still be tabled in the first half of the year. He highlighted the government's responsiveness to farmers' demands, such as easing restrictions on water use in response to water scarcity during the summer.
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