Angry farmers do not back down despite Brussels' concessions

Despite the concessions made by Brussels, where European leaders are meeting today, the anger of farmers across the European Union shows no sign of abating, particularly in France, where road blockades are set to continue for a fourth consecutive day.

Although the anger of the farming community is not on the official agenda for the Brussels summit, hundreds of tractors are expected to arrive today near the summit venue, in front of the European Parliament, according to the organizers.

Yesterday, Wednesday, on the eve of the European summit, French and Belgian farmers «jointly» blocked a border crossing between the two countries, denouncing «distortions of competition» enshrined in free trade agreements and calling for «very strong statements» today.

In France, farmers are continuing to block highways around Paris. Tensions escalated yesterday, Wednesday, evening with the first arrests of farmers who were attempting to block the Ranzí market, the food hub of the Paris region.

A total of 91 people were arrested late in the afternoon following a breach of the perimeter of this wholesale market, where «damage» was caused, according to a statement by a police source to the French Press Agency.

– Concessions from Brussels –

The aid measures announced yesterday by the French government and the European Commission’s concessions regarding set-aside and imports from Ukraine do not seem to satisfy farmers, who are also protesting in Italy, Spain, and Germany, according to Agence France-Presse.

In Italy, thousands of farmers, from Sardinia to Piedmont, took to the streets again yesterday, Wednesday.

The main confederation of Italian farmers, Coldiretti, plans to travel to Brussels today with about 1,000 farmers from Italy to denounce «the madness threatening agriculture.».

The Spanish Minister of Agriculture announced that he will meet tomorrow, Friday, with the three main farmers« unions, which have promised »protests« in the »coming weeks".

Portuguese farmers have also called for a protest this morning on the country's roads, using tractors and farm machinery.

In response to the protests, the European Commission made concessions yesterday on two main issues: it proposes granting a «partial» exemption for 2024 from the set-aside requirement imposed by the CAP and is considering a mechanism to limit imports from Ukraine, particularly poultry.

– A «belated» effort –

Although Paris expressed its satisfaction that Brussels «responded to France’s requests,» this exemption comes «too late» and remains «limited,» said Copa-Cogeca, the umbrella organization of agricultural unions in the EU, expressing its regret.

Excessively complex European policy, excessively low incomes, inflation, competition from abroad, a proliferation of regulations, and a sharp rise in fuel prices: the same grievances are cited in most European countries.

Anger is mounting over the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the Twenty-Seven, which some consider to be out of touch with reality.

– Mercosur –

Another contentious issue remains unresolved in Brussels: The European Commission, which is responsible for the trade policy of the EU-27, is currently negotiating a free trade agreement with the Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay), which is causing concern in the agricultural sector and which Paris has stated it opposes.

«This agreement with major agricultural nations »is not good for our livestock farmers and cannot, must not be signed as it stands,«» said French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said yesterday, Wednesday, adding that he was ready for a “showdown” with the European Commission.

French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to hold talks today with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the European summit.

The head of the powerful French farmers« union FNSEA, however, called on its members »to remain calm and act reasonably.« »Expectations are enormous,« said Arnaud Rousso, in light of the »accumulation of standards and rules.« However, »there are also many European issues that cannot be resolved in three days.”.

The new CAP, which, starting in 2023, reinforces the environmental obligations and provisions of the European Green Deal —even though they are not yet in effect—is fueling the anger. France is the country that receives the most European agricultural subsidies, with more than 9 billion euros annually.