The French government has pledged to prioritize agriculture as a fundamental national interest, unveiling an agriculture bill aimed at addressing the grievances of farmers.
Prime Minister Attal made the commitment, emphasizing the need for comprehensive reforms to address the challenges faced by farmers. Last month, nationwide protests by farmers compelled the government to promise reforms, leading to the suspension of the protests by their unions.
However, with the national agriculture show over the weekend serving as a de facto deadline for the government to fulfill its promises, tensions remain high. Even as Attal addressed the issue on Wednesday, farmers continued to blockade a 70-kilometer stretch of a motorway in the south of the country.
Earlier this week, farmers staged protests, including blocking milk transport and setting fire to tires at roundabouts, to highlight their concerns, which include stringent environmental regulations, the influx of cheap imports from outside the EU, and persistently low incomes.
Attal announced plans for a forthcoming law that would provide concrete measures to achieve farming and food sovereignty for France. The law aims to address the demands put forth by protesting farmers and establish a framework for negotiations between producers and wholesalers to improve farmers’ incomes.
Additionally, the government has expedited payments under the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy, providing emergency aid to livestock farmers. France will also transition to using an EU indicator for pesticide reduction, a move welcomed by farmers’ unions despite opposition from environmental groups.
Attal reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing pesticide use by 50 percent by 2030 while also easing visa procedures for foreign seasonal agriculture workers and continuing to waive payroll taxes for seasonal farm work.
Farmers’ unions, including the FNSEA and the Young Farmers (JA) union, have announced plans to lead a procession of tractors to the agriculture show in Paris ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s visit. They demand concrete assurances that their concerns will be addressed before Macron’s visit, emphasizing the urgency of political action to meet their expectations.