“We need to fundamentally change the rules.
» Emmanuel Macron spoke about the “agricultural crisis” facing the Old Continent during a press conference held after a European summit in Brussels.
The Head of State also spoke with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, ahead of this European Council.
“We must put in place a European Egalim,” said the President of the Republic.
This means ensuring at the European level that there is no circumvention (
of French laws
) by these large European purchasing centers,” he explains.
“We need a stronger, more concrete Europe to protect the income of our farmers,” he adds.
The Egalim law is supposed to protect the income of farmers, against agri-food manufacturers and mass retailers.
VIDEO.
France calls for a “European health and agricultural control force”
For the French head of state, “food sovereignty” must be placed “at the heart of European objectives”.
He called for a “European health and agricultural control force”.
“I asked the President of the Commission for uniform European controls.
A European rule must be controlled in the same way in each Member State.
» He also asked the Commission for “concrete and tangible simplifications” in favor of farmers before the end of February.
Control of Ukrainian grain imports
He also repeated his opposition to the free trade agreement between the EU and South American Mercosur and welcomed the fact that no agreement had “been concluded in haste”.
“Discussions have been suspended,” he said.
We are asking that the rules we impose on our farmers be the same as those imposed on farmers in the countries to which we are in the process of opening our doors.
» In the east of the Old Continent, the EU will establish controls on imports of Ukrainian cereals, according to the French president, who mentioned a “reinforced safeguard mechanism” at the European level, allowing “intervention” in the event of destabilization lessons.
The Head of State also spoke about the state of demonstrations on French soil.
“A return to calm is a necessity.
But be careful, we must not return to the situation before.
» Emmanuel Macron “expects the government to implement everything it has announced”.
The European Council was initially devoted to supporting Ukraine, at war against the Russian invader for almost two years.
Emmanuel Macron estimated Thursday that the agreement of the Twenty-Seven on aid of 50 billion euros to Ukraine sent a “clear message” to Moscow.
“Russia cannot count on any fatigue from Europeans in their support for Ukraine,” declared the French president.
Our support for Ukraine since the start of the war has been united and unanimous.
» According to him, Viktor Orban's Hungary “did not get a gift” in return for the aid promised to the Ukrainians.