Rural workers fear that European market be taken by meat, sugar and rice from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay
“The peasant revolt is resumed in Versailles.” Almost 100 farmers protested on Friday (26) against the famous French palace against the business agreement between e as part of a mobilization journey. Called by the country’s main agricultural union, Fnsea, and their allies of young farmers, dozens of rural workers, with 15 tractors, positioned themselves at the entrance of the palace, where they light a bonfire and green flags.
French farmers and ranchers fear their market flooded with meat, sugar or rice from Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, under the UE-Mercosul Agreement, whose ratification process began by the European Commission in September. “The purpose of the mobilization is, of course, to draw the attention of the head of state,” Emmanuel Macron, who should “act,” said Fnsea leader Arnaud Rousseau.
Authorities expect almost 3,000 participants in 70 organized actions across the country. The Peasant Confederation Agricultural Union, the third largest in the sector, called a protest with tractors in Paris on October 14. Pascal Verriele, 56 and a member of Fnsea, said he has the feeling of being “at the bottom of the well” after 40 years working in the sector. “I have no visibility, no margin of maneuver,” lamented the farmer.
“There is Mercosur, the exempt import quotas of tariffs granted to Ukraine. All this destabilizes our farms,” he added. Farmers and ranchers have already starred in major protests in 2024 against the sector’s situation. The government promised several measures at the time, such as eliminating the increase in the price of diesel for agricultural use, subsidies or less bureaucratic procedures.
The European Commission has promised to complete the Treaty of the UE-Mercosul agreement with a “legal text” that reinforces safeguarding measures in case of impact on European products, hoping to reassure France. But French agricultural unions are not convinced and threaten to convene new protests during the winter (northern hemisphere, summer in Brazil), “when the work situation in the fields allows,” warned Rousseau.
*With information from AFP
