The French government announces a series of measures in an attempt to suppress the farmers’ protests

The French Prime Minister, Gabriel Attalhas announced a series of measures in an attempt to calm the situation farmers protestLike the end of the gradual increase in diesel excise duties non-road, a simplification of the regulations on agricultural hedgesas well as an increase of 50 million euros for the ecological farmingamong other things.

Moreover, the French President, Emmanuel Macronwill ask at the European Union (EU) summit on February 1 to withdraw the obligation to invest 4% of the country fallowand simplify the PAC.

“The CAP must be simplified, that is a fact,” Attal said on Friday from a farm in Montastruc de Salies, north of Toulouse, where he set out to outline an arsenal of aid in favor of the agricultural sector, which he spent eight days pressure on his government increased highway and road blocks throughout the state.

Attal, who also promised accelerate Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) paymentsof which France is the first beneficiary with 9 billion euros per year, has said that “although Europe is our best protection, we must be steadfast to defend our agriculture.”

On the other hand, “France is clearly against the signing of the Treaty, as it has done from day one by the vote of the President of the Republic (Emmanuel Macron). Mercosur Treatythe French Prime Minister said, reiterating again that the French government will “continue to oppose” the agreement in the future, according to broadcaster BFMTV.

The EU and Mercosur began negotiating a free trade agreement in 2000, although talks have since gone through several phases and eventually stalled. Several environmental issues, highlighted by Paris, threaten to end the process.