French farmers are planning two days of protest across the country in December to highlight their drop in income due to high inflation – the final phase of a wave of demonstrations that have previously addressed the proposed EU deal with South American trade bloc Mercosur, and issues with red tape.
France's FNSEA farmer's union plans to mobilise across the country on 9 and 10 December, according to its president Arnaud Rousseau.
This latest action will address farmers' income, the pricing of agricultural products and ongoing trade negotiations with distributors.
Speaking on RMC radio on Friday morning, Rousseau said that the aim is to conclude the series of protests with a meeting with Prime Minister Michel Barnier.
Following a series of demonstrations at the start of the year, farming unions resumed their protests in mid-November, united behind their demand for better incomes and opposition to the proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American trade bloc Mercosur.
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Posting on social media; Rousseau said: "For a year, we've been on the ground to get results in the farmyards ... [our] threat to the current government leads us to believe that the progress expected ... will not necessarily be forthcoming. This is the case with cash loans ... [and] is a matter of the utmost urgency for farmers."
Phased protests
The FNSEA – in partnership with the Young Farmers union (JA) – has structured its action into three phases: the first addressing Mercosur, the second focused on standards and administrative simplification, and the final phase – over the coming days – dedicated to income concerns.
Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard is scheduled to meet with FNSEA-JA later this Friday, followed by discussions with the Modef and Coordination rurale unions, in a bid to advance on concrete measures to ease farmers' daily challenges.
The Confédération paysanne – which also advocates for improved incomes and the cutting of red tape while supporting existing standards – will also hold a meeting with Genevard in the near future.
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