French farmers are maintaining their protest and continuing to obstruct major roads in the country, as they believe the government's recent measures do not adequately address their demands. The protest, which aims to secure better remuneration for agricultural products, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and protect against cheap imports, has gained momentum in recent days with farmers utilizing their tractors to block roads and slow down traffic. Additionally, they have been depositing unpleasant agricultural waste at the entrances of government buildings.
While some barricades have been gradually removed on Saturday, Vinci Autoroutes, the highway operator, reported the closure of the A7, a crucial highway connecting southern France to Spain. Partial road closures are persisting, primarily in southern France. Nevertheless, Vinci Autoroutes confirmed the removal of blockades on two highways leading to Paris, as well as the reopening of the Lyon-to-Bordeaux highway on Saturday.
In an attempt to diffuse the tensions, France's new prime minister, Gabriel Attal, announced a set of measures on Friday during a visit to a cattle farm in southern France. The proposed measures include streamlining certain technical procedures and a gradual elimination of diesel fuel taxes for farm vehicles. Attal also affirmed that France would continue to oppose the European Union's free-trade agreement with the Mercosur trade group, advocating for French farmers who perceive the deal as unfair competition from Latin American countries. Negotiations for this agreement have been ongoing for several years.
However, the two major farmers unions in France swiftly announced their decision to prolong the protests, asserting that the government's plan falls short of their expectations. This ongoing protest in France reflects the broader discontent among farmers in agricultural heartlands across the European Union. With agricultural enterprises receiving substantial subsidies, the sector has emerged as a contentious issue ahead of the European Parliament elections in June. Populist and far-right parties anticipate capitalizing on the dissatisfaction among rural communities over free trade agreements, burdensome costs amplified by Russia's involvement in the Ukraine conflict, and other grievances.
This discontent within the agricultural sector has led to demonstrations in other European countries as well. Farmers in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania have recently staged protests, highlighting the widespread concerns and dissatisfaction among agricultural communities across the continent.
