They announce that they will continue with the blockades until at least Thursday. In an attempt to calm things down, Macron has announced he will ask to regulate poultry imports from Ukraine and Attal has defended “a French agricultural exception”.
The French farmers They continue their protests to demand higher salaries, lower taxes and relaxation of bureaucratic procedures, among other things. Since two days ago, kept locked numerous roads throughout the French territory and in the access to Paris. However, unlike yesterday, the gendarmerie prevents him from coming.
A convoy of several dozen tractors is advancing towards the Rungis international market, the largest in France, while continuing with their objective of closing access to this market. The government maintains its police force and has around 15,000 mobilized police officers. The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, has already warned that they will intervene if the tractors try to enter Paris, blocking Rungis or the capital’s airports, Orly and Charles de Gaulle.
However, farmers believe that they must continue to apply pressure and have already announced that the blockades will at least remain in place. till Thursday. A summit of European Union leaders is scheduled for February 1, while the European Commission continues negotiations on a trade deal with Mercosur.
The President of France, Emmanuel Macronreiterated on Tuesday that his government’s position is based on this “don’t sign” the agreement because it understands that the entry into force of this pact could lead to “distortion and unfair competition”.
In addition, the French president has chosen to regulate poultry imports from Ukraine as it arrives “much cheaper”, and the sector has also denounced an alleged case of unfair competition in this area.
Meanwhile the Prime Minister Gabriel Attal is in favor of a “French agricultural exception”. “Our agriculture is a strength because it is one of the foundations of our identity and our tradition,” he emphasized during a speech to the National Assembly, promising that the government will be present, without “ambiguities,” in light of the challenges posed by this sector.
Likewise, he assured that they will announce new measures through an emergency fund to help wine growers, especially in the Occitania region. “From March 15, all CAP support will be paid into farmers’ bank accounts,” he stated.
Attal will meet with the representatives of the mobilized agricultural unions tomorrow, Wednesday.
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
