Farmers drive their tractor towards the Rennes prefecture, February 1, 2024 (AFP/Sebastien SALOM-GOMIS)
A decline, not yet the epilogue: farmers followed the slogan of the FNSEA and the JA, in the majority, to lift the blockages after a series of government concessions, but some want to continue the movement.
On Thursday, signs of relaxation increased, notably with the end of the blocking of the Cheviré bridge crossing the mouth of the Loire or the departure of farmers from the dams which cut off the A6 at the Villefranche-sur-Saône toll gate at north of Lyon or the A81 between Le Mans and Brittany.
In the evening, the prefectures reported lifting of blockades almost everywhere in the country, or at the very least reductions, even if occasional blockages persisted, according to Matignon.
At the national level on Thursday at 7:00 p.m., we noted a “very slow decline” in the dams, a police source told AFP, even if “we should not interpret this slowness other than as a somewhat vigilant side of arms and communion of the farmers who fought for ten days to obtain guarantees”.
– “Historical mobilization” –
Around Lyon, “all the points that we have mastered” will be lifted on Friday at “2:00 p.m.”, Michel Joux, boss of the FRSEA, told AFP, therefore leaving points on the A7 to the south and on the A43 to the east where farmers present at the call of the Peasant Confederation have indicated their intention to stay.
In Occitania, once the epicenter of the movement of anger but losing momentum since the arrival of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal a week ago, the new series of announcements has led to the lifting – immediate or soon – of several roadblocks, particularly in Aveyron and Gers.
“It was a historic, tough, strong mobilization… We gave ourselves the means to return to the negotiating table. We had to do this for the future, for our young people,” said Laurent Saint-Affre , delegate of the FDSEA of Aveyron, warning however that “the match is not over: there still remains the point of tension, the shadow on the board, that of Lactalis which does as it pleases on the price of milk. So we could bring out the tractors in a few days to go for a little tour…”
“We have decided that at the moment, in view of everything that has been announced (…), we need to change our modes of action and therefore we are calling on our networks (…) to suspend the blockages and enter into a new form of mobilization”, indicated Thursday the president of Young Farmers (JA) Arnaud Gaillot, alongside the boss of the FNSEA Arnaud Rousseau, during a press conference in Paris.
Some farmers still need to discuss, but “we feel a desire to pause, to switch to more work mobilization”, then estimated Mr. Gaillot on RTL: “we are not here just to block, this is not our job, we want to return to our farms, we want to work,” he said, also referring to “fatigue” after 10 days of mobilization.
Among the conditions set by FNSEA and JA for not resuming the movement: “first results” before the Agricultural Show (February 24-March 3) then the adoption of an agricultural orientation and future law as well as European measures by June.
– “Long enough” –
Thursday noon, Mr. Attal, for his third round of announcements in a week, listed measures which according to him meet “a large part of the expectations” of farmers.
These measures include a strengthening of Egalim laws which aim to prevent producers from bearing the brunt of the fierce price war between supermarkets on the one hand, and distributors and suppliers of the agro-industry on the other.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal speaks during a press conference on February 1, 2024 in Paris (AFP/JULIEN DE ROSA)
According to Bercy, emergency measures for farmers represent some 400 million euros in total. Mr. Attal mentioned on Thursday 150 million euros in tax and social support for cattle breeders.
On phytosanitary measures, the government also let go, promising in particular that the Ecophyto plan aimed at reducing the use of pesticides would be put “on pause”, a measure described as a “major setback” by environmental NGOs.
The Minister of Agriculture Marc Fesneau, for his part, planned to travel to Gard and Hérault on Friday “to present concrete measures” to support wine growers, his services announced.
Mr. Attal had received agricultural unions in recent days, including the FNSEA at length but also on Wednesday morning the Rural Coordination, second agricultural union, and the Confédération paysanne, third.
– Pledges of Brussels –
“For us, the movement has lasted long enough, the objectives have been achieved (…) everyone is aware of the files we are carrying”, explained to AFP the general secretary of Rural Coordination Christian Convers, in announcing the departure from the Paris region of its members from Lot-et-Garonne, some of whom were arrested in Rungis on Wednesday.
Farmers stand on a tractor in front of the Rennes Métropole building, February 1, 2024 in Rennes (AFP/Sebastien SALOM-GOMIS)
“If there are those in the departments who want to continue, that is their business,” added the manager, estimating that given the progress obtained, “a few days of additional mobilization will bring nothing, except to embarrassment to the population.
For its part, the Peasant Confederation called for “continued mobilization” because “the fundamental question of income” is “still not tackled head-on by the government” according to it.
Beyond France, all of European agriculture is affected by a movement of anger.
At the end of a day which saw some 1,200 tractors converge in Brussels, the Commission on Thursday promised measures to defend the “legitimate interests” of European farmers, “by guaranteeing fair conditions of competition” or by reducing the ” administrative burden” of the much-maligned Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
© 2024 AFP
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