The French president encountered a demonstration of farmers at the opening of the Paris Agricultural Salon. Dozens of tractors blocked part of the city. Macron defends government measures. Protests are also continuing in Spain and Moldova.
ADVERTISING
French farmers returned to the street and this morning they partially blocked Paris with their tractors at a time when the muchanticipated agricultural fair, one of the largest in the world, is starting in the French capital. There are records of some clashes before the official opening of the fair. Demonstrators came to Paris to remind the French government of promises made a few weeks ago that have not yet been fulfilled.
“Save our agriculture,” declared the Rural Coordination, repeating this sentiment on social media. Among the demonstrators was a sign on a tractor that read: “Death lies in the field.” The column of agricultural tractors briefly disrupted traffic earlier in the day on the A4, the highway that encircles the east of Paris.
Macron meets farmers in Paris
French President Emmanuel Macron had canceled an open debate with farmers and ecoactivists, which provoked much criticism, but this morning he had to meet a delegation of fifteen protesters to explain the measures taken by the government. Macron called for calm and said that a broader debate was impossible.
“I have never hidden,” said the head of the Élysée, adding: “The government responded immediately with 62 measures.” “We must not paint a catastrophic picture of our agriculture,” Macron told those present. “French agriculture remains strong, revenues in many sectors have been historic.”
Farmer protests in other EU countries
The complaints voiced by French farmers are part of a broader movement across Europe protesting against EU agricultural policies, bureaucratic obstacles and general terms and conditions.
Farmers argue that EU environmental regulations, including initiatives such as the Green Deal, which advocate limits on chemical use and greenhouse gas emissions, are hindering their operations and making their products less competitive compared to imports from outside the EU. HUH.
In Spain, the scale and number of farmers' protests are increasing. On Friday, hundreds of farmers gathered in several cities such as León, Teruel and Pamplona, demanding fairer prices and a more farmerfriendly “Green Deal”.
Farmers across the country have been protesting for two weeks. Several unions are planning a major protest in Madrid.
Blockade of the border between Moldova and Romania
In Moldova, farmers blocked a key border crossing with Romania on Friday and demanded compensation and subsidies from the government as well as loan deferrals. Farmers also demanded cheaper diesel just as Romania had promised on the Romanian side but this never arrived as the Moldovan government said it had no place to store the fuel.
Farmers cleared the border crossing later on Friday, but it is not the first time they parked their tractors at the border crossing in protest.