Manifestations

In response to the anger of farmers, Gabriel Attal made a series of announcements on Friday, including the end of the increase in non-road agricultural diesel, “ten immediate simplification measures” and even emergency aid of 50 million euros for the organic sector. The Prime Minister also promised sanctions against three companies failing to comply with Egalim laws, which aim to protect farmers’ incomes.

Published on: 01/26/2024 – 11:37 Modified on: 01/26/2024 – 20:44

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Gabriel Attal promised, Friday January 26, an “agricultural surge” to face the anger of the sector, notably canceling the increase in non-road diesel and sanctions against three companies not respecting the Egalim laws, which aim to protect income farmers.

“I came because you wanted to send a message and I came to tell you that the message, we received it five out of five, that I heard you, that we heard you,” said the Prime Minister in Montastruc-de-Salies (Haute-Garonne), after days of demonstrations and blockades by farmers.

“We decided to put agriculture above everything else.” “Today is a jolt day”, “a new chapter that must be opened for French agriculture, it starts today, and above all, this chapter, we are going to write and build it together “, insisted the Prime Minister.

After denouncing the “guilt-inducing speeches” and criticizing “those who oppose the defense of our farmers and the defense of the environment”, Gabriel Attal acceded to one of the main demands of the demonstrators: the cancellation of the increase, although recorded in the 2024 budget, of the tax on non-road agricultural diesel, which was to increase gradually until 2030.

Also read: Downgrading, debt, European standards… the reasons for the anger of French farmers

Another sensitive subject: the proper application of the Egalim laws, which aim to protect the income of farmers in the context of negotiations with manufacturers and supermarkets. “In the coming days”, the government will “sanction very heavily” three companies which do not respect” these laws, announced Gabriel Attal, also promising a strengthening of controls and “maximum pressure” on the ongoing negotiations between the actors.

“Ten immediate simplification measures”

The head of government also promises an administrative “shock of simplification” with “ten immediate simplification measures”. He cited in particular the “cleaning of agricultural watercourses” or “deadlines for appeals against agricultural projects”.

Gabriel Attal also intends to “put an end to inconsistencies which benefit no one: neither farmers nor the environment”, such as “on clearing obligations or on hedges”.

The Prime Minister also announced an effort to provide rapid emergency aid, particularly with regard to epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) for which state reimbursement for veterinary care increases from 80% to 90%.

This disease, transmitted by biting midges, mainly affects deer and cattle. The vast majority of outbreaks are concentrated in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and the Hautes-Pyrénées.

Gabriel Attal also promised that he was going to “hand over 50 million euros for the organic sector”, growers and breeders in the sector having seen their income crumble over the last two years with the decline in demand for these products. The government had already committed in 2023 to paying 94 million euros to this sector in difficulty.

Furthermore, France “opposes the signing” of the controversial trade agreement between the European Union and the Latin American countries of Mercosur, assured Gabriel Attal. Mercosur and the EU have been negotiating this agreement for years, which stumbles on environmental issues, denounced – notably by French farmers – for the risk of unfair competition from South American products.

These announcements come as farmers increase pressure on the executive: access to Paris was disrupted on Friday, and highways still blocked. Snail operations are organized everywhere, in Brittany, Aquitaine, Rhône-Alpes. In Narbonne, a building of the Mutualité sociale agricole (MSA), evacuated as a precaution on Thursday, was set on fire on Friday on the sidelines of a farmers’ demonstration.

The mobilization of #farmers is historic: everywhere in France, there are more than 55,000 of us demonstrating! Let’s go on ! Let’s keep up the pressure, the Government needs strong awareness to take measures that meet our demands. #AgriSousPression…

— Arnaud Rousseau (@rousseautrocy) January 25, 2024

During this speech, standing in front of a bale of hay, the head of government increased his gestures of understanding towards farmers.

“We will not let you go”, “we will fight at European level to also move the lines”, he concluded.

In reaction to the Prime Minister’s announcements, the FNSEA, the leading farmers’ union, called for continued mobilization.

“We have made the decision to continue this mobilization because the Prime Minister’s announcements do not answer all of the questions we are asking,” Arnaud Rousseau declared on TF1.

With AFP