Farmers in France are continuing their protest movements demanding improved living conditions and protection for their products from imported goods competition. Despite the authorities promising to consider their demands and taking some measures towards that end, the protests have expanded, as farmers believe that the government actions announced last week, and the commitments made by the Minister of Agriculture on Wednesday morning, January 31, are insufficient.
The tension has notably affected the highways leading to the capital, Paris, and several vital facilities, like the A6 road leading to the Rungis Central Market and Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, where police cars have been deployed to prevent farmers from blocking these roads or accessing any of these facilities.
The protesting farmers announced the establishment of eight points to disrupt traffic on major highways around Paris last Monday, while authorities mobilized 15,000 police officers, especially around the Roissy Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, as well as the vital Rungis market. This morning, convoys of agricultural tractors were seen heading to surround the city of Lyon (southeast), the third largest city in France.
Pierre-Aurélien, the Secretary-General of the "Young Farmers" union associated with the large farmers' union FNSEA, declared the resumption of road blockades at the beginning of this week. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin warned the farmers against entering Rungis and the Parisian airports and the city of Paris itself, stating, "But if they are forced to do that, I repeat, we will never allow it."
A convoy of 200 to 300 agricultural tractors had stopped between Vierzon and Orléans, heading southwest to Rungis, where they spent the night from Tuesday to Wednesday. Earlier, many villagers along the route came out to greet them and applaud while waving French flags.
### Insufficient Support Measures
Despite support measures, including the cancellation of the increase in taxes on agricultural diesel and the provision of €80 million in aid to wine producers, the government has failed to quell the anger and is attempting to act on the European front. Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau is heading to Brussels on Wednesday to discuss "urgent European cases," while Paris has decided to confront the European Commission to oppose signing a trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc, which includes major trading powers in Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay).
French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire stated on Wednesday to "C News" that the free trade agreement with important agricultural countries "does not benefit our farmers and cannot and should not be signed in its current form." Paris has explicitly expressed its opposition to concluding this trade deal, which has caused tensions with the European Commission responsible for trade negotiations among the member states.
### "European Agricultural Anger"
The angry movement has spread throughout the continent, as demonstrations have taken place in Germany, Poland, Romania, Belgium, and Italy in recent weeks. On Tuesday, the three main agricultural unions in Spain announced their support for the protests, with "mobilizations" across the country in the coming weeks to denounce European regulations.
Italy has also witnessed spontaneous protests in recent weeks, with dozens of farmers protesting with their tractors near Milan (north) on Tuesday, claiming they have been "betrayed by Europe." Meanwhile, the Greek government, facing increasing protests from the agricultural sector, pledged on Tuesday to expedite financial aid to farmers affected by last year's floods.
The new common agricultural policy in Europe, which has strengthened binding environmental objectives since 2023, along with the "European Green Deal," which has not yet come into effect, has particularly contributed to the growing anger.
