Farmers are staging protests across France against the possible signing of a trade deal between the European Union and four South American countries which they fear will ruin their livelihoods. The Telegraph has the story.
The agricultural activists captured global attention in January and February when they blockaded Paris and pledged to “starve” the capital unless stifling EU and French norms were relaxed.
This time, they have dubbed the 85-odd protests “Act II”.
Arnaud Rousseau, head of the largest farming union, the FNSEA, insisted that the action would mainly involve demonstrations in front of regional state buildings and roundabouts and that the aim was “not to inconvenience the French”.
Bruno Retailleau, France’s newly appointed Interior Minister, has also pledged authorities will show “zero tolerance” towards long-lasting disruption this time.
However, other farming unions are taking more direct action with roadblocks and bridge blockades.
In the greater Paris region, a dozen tractors blocked the N118 road at Velizy, with officials advising drivers to avoid the area.
Other roadblocks are planned on Monday afternoon in Ile-de-France on various key routes in and out of the capital.
In the southern town of Avignon, tractors blocked the Pont de l’Europe, one of the main entry points to the town. Local media reported 30 tractors and around 100 farmers were involved.
The protests earlier this year were called off following promises from the Government – but farmers say that the pledges are yet to materialise and their woes have been compounded by poor harvests and animal diseases.
Worth reading in full.
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Has been said over and over but nothing is truer than no farmers no food. This demolishes everything else and only a fool would deny it. Although you could argue that they want a no food situation so this is just music to their ears. But this would be based on a misunderstanding of the dynamics of the situation that would ensue.
No politicians – no stupidity
Yes there are many stupid prats in every walk of life but it is a different matter when they spend their energy trying to control and destroy us.
Chicken and egg? Which stupidity comes first, the electorate’s or the politicians’?
You mean no farmers in the UK & EU, but still plenty in the rest of the World? That doesn’t mean no food because there is that big wide World out there full of farmers eager to supply.
This is precisely what the French farmers are bellyaching about – there is plenty of food which consumers can get elsewhere at a better price.
That’s not an argument for the destruction of farming in Europe – but it is the reality. And the French farmers’ plight is of their own making, demanding protectionism for decades, and so isolated from the rigours of outside competition, they have become high-priced, uncompetitive – just like all of the EU’s and UK’s economic activity thanks to a protectionist Customs Union, which rather than the current bunch of ruling nitwits trying to get the UK more distanced, are determined to entangle us in it again.
I’ve got to hand it to les frogs, they don’t half know how to stage a good protest.
The French are great sailors too… Got to hand it to them.
Shame no one really likes them!
Well done to the French Farmers!
But I am quite worried about our own Farmers Protest in London tomorrow. Getting around London was a nightmare years ago, and must be even worse now. I hope the farmers know what they are getting themselves and their little ones into, by letting their kids lead the march with toy tractors. Where are they all going to stay, where are they all going to eat, and where are the kids going to rest when they get tired of all the long speeches and endless traffic noise of London?
I wish they had staged their protests all over the country in their own local towns and villages, inviting local reporters and dignitaries, and allowing millions more supporters to join in who can’t possibly get to London.
Maybe they can have nationwide local protests later on, then the National Farmers Union can collate all the data onto a map of Britain, including estimated numbers of farmers and their families and supporters all over the country, easily numbering in their millions, to issue as an International Press Release.
This is a polite warning to the Govt to rethink the policy. If they ignore the protest then it will escalate and spread all over as so many people will be losing their jobs and struggling to survive.
The dam is near breaking point and I have never heard people so angry about our 2 tier Country.
I wouldn’t worry about Farmers and their children, they are made of tough stuff, the same stuff Britains used to be made of, their kids get to get dirty, mix with large animals and associated droppings, and feed. Farmers won’t like being in the city its an anathema to them, and my guess is most Londoners will view tractors and large jumper coated burly men as a wonder to behold, like the first Elephants.
I think they need to follow the example of the truck drivers who blockaded the refineries. Starmer needs to learn and learn quick that Food security is incredibly important to the people of this country. He can eat all the imported Caviar and fake meat he likes, the majority of us want real meat, and vegetables produced in the UK
Protectionism of market sectors is paid for by consumers in higher prices because of the limited choice competition provides.
Protectionism often involves subsidies which are paid for by taxpayers who are consumers too.
Goods in a protectionist Customs Union – which the EU is – means people pay twice, once at the point of sale, then again (unseen) via the tax system.
The EU has protected farmers since 1958. A good part of this is via regulation intended to make it difficult/impossible for farmers outside the EU (and some inside) to compete because of the resources needed and cost to implement these regulations.
Farmers in the EU get help – subsidies – to implement the regulation and also can pass on increased costs to consumers in the absence of competition.
Brexit was supposed to relieve British farmers of these regulations, so they could be competitive against imported foods and also respond to market pressure for lower food prices, and still make a decent profit.
(Consumers dictate prices, not supermarkets.)
Of course this didn’t happen and British farmers still have the cost of unnecessary regulation and a market more open to lower priced imports.
I have every sympathy with British farmers who were the most efficient in Europe until dragged into the CAP when UK joined the EEC, making them increasingly equally inefficient with French and other EEC/EU farmers and uncompetitive in the global market place.
I have zero sympathy for EU farmers who have hidden behind protectionism – demanded it – at the expense of consumers, harming the poorest most for whom food takes up a higher proportion of income.
If you believe “regulations” are there for consumer safety and animal welfare, I have three words for you to consider… safe and effective. And put that mask back on! Poor granny.