The executive is trying to definitively resolve the crisis.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal held a press conference this Wednesday morning to try to calm the anger of farmers, three days before the opening of the Agricultural Show.
This speech aimed in particular to detail the “main orientations” of a new agricultural bill and to ensure “the monitoring and execution” of the government measures already presented on February 1.
The Ministers of the Economy Bruno Le Maire, of Agriculture Marc Fesneau and of the Ecological Transition Christophe Béchu were also present.
Here's what you need to remember.
“Agricultural sovereignty is our course”
“The farmers asked us to go even further.
We were faithful to the method that I set: listening and acting for results,” said Gabriel Attal in the preamble.
“France must be sovereign.
Agricultural sovereignty is our course,” he added, affirming that the government would “meet” its responsibilities.
“We will not lie, we will not betray.
Farmers wait to see to believe.
» According to him, 62 commitments have been made and 100% of the sites are open.
Gabriel Attal once again - as on February 1 - affirmed that the "objective of agricultural sovereignty" was a "course".
“We want to place agriculture among the fundamental interests of the nation in the same way as our defense or our security,” he added.
“I remind you that there is no country without a peasant.
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A “solutions conference” on “collective catering”
The Prime Minister announced the launch of a “solutions conference” on “collective catering” by April.
“I admit that I want us to consume more French,” he said.
“We must accelerate on collective catering.
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A new Egalim bill
The Prime Minister announced the launch of a parliamentary mission on the Egalim law, which aims to guarantee good remuneration for farmers.
“A new bill will be presented by the summer to strengthen the Egalim system,” said Gabriel Attal.
This will revolve around “three major issues”: the “construction of prices”, the “place of production cost indicators” and a strengthening of the “weight of our farmers in commercial negotiations” vis-à-vis European centers.
He reiterated his desire to carry out discussions to establish a European Egalim.
99.6% of CAP aid paid
According to Gabriel Attal, 99.% of “basic aid” from the European common agricultural policy (CAP) has already been paid.
“In 2015, at this same time, 0% of payments had taken place and the payment was made one year late,” explained the head of government.
“Facilitating” the work of seasonal workers
The Prime Minister confirmed that “almost all seasonal jobs” would be exempt from employer contributions.
“This measure is applicable from 2024,” he said.
Agriculture will also be recognized as a sector in tension “during the Agricultural Show”.
A decree against thiacloprids
The Prime Minister once again insisted that he was opposed to the proposed EU-Mercosur free trade agreement around the principle: “If it is prohibited for our farmers, it must not enter our country”.
Pointed out in particular, products treated with thiacloprids - a pesticide whose use has been banned in Europe since 2020, but whose imports remain possible.
“This is not acceptable and I have therefore asked the European Commission to ban all imports of agricultural products containing thiacloprid.
I will issue an order on Friday to prohibit its importation into France,” he announced.
Still on pesticides, France also wishes to abandon the measurement indicator currently used on pesticides, Nodu, although defended by environmentalists but contested by the majority agricultural union FNSEA and the pesticide industry.
“I am announcing to you that the reference indicator for monitoring our objective of reducing phytosanitary products will no longer be the Franco-French Nodu but the European indicator.
This is in line with our desire to avoid any overtransposition.
It was the request of farmers,” declared Gabriel Attal, while affirming that he did not want to “give up on (the) ambition to reduce the use of pesticides by 50% by 2030.”
A desire for simplification
Gabriel Attal also wants to “simplify the lives of our farmers” and “our breeders”.
He claims to have “asked the prefects to meet the farmers, to simplify, or even remove standards as soon as possible”.
According to him, “63 prefectural decrees have already been repealed or modified”.
The Prime Minister also expressed the wish to automate animal identification and to eliminate the double declaration by insurers - State, during major climatic events.