A strong decision, contrary to that of the other main agricultural unions.
The Peasant Confederation called on Thursday evening in a press release to “continue the mobilization” because “the fundamental question of income” is “still not taken head-on by the government” according to it.
A choice which contrasts with that of the majority unions, the FNSEA and the JA, which called on Thursday to suspend the blockades in France but promised to remain vigilant on the application of new measures announced shortly before by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.
Among these is a strengthening of the Egalim laws which aim to prevent producers from bearing the brunt of the fierce price war between supermarkets on the one hand, and distributors and suppliers of the agro-industry on the other.
Karine Duc, co-president of the Lot-et-Garonne Rural Coordination, for her part indicated on BFMTV that the union would remain “attentive to ensuring that the announcements are respected”.
Measures deemed insufficient
“Announcing the
strengthening of the Egalim law
is a vast hoax,” criticizes the Peasant Confederation in a press release, demanding “a ban on purchasing below the cost price of our agricultural products.”
Concerning the EU-Mercosur agreement, which crystallizes tensions, the union wants to “stop the current negotiations”.
According to them, Gabriel Attal is simply content to “repeat that France will not sign it
as is
”.
💥In the absence of a response on peasant income, @ConfPaysanne calls for continued mobilization 👇 pic.twitter.com/3BqYvY9A8l
— Conf' Paysanne (@ConfPaysanne) February 1, 2024
Among the other subjects which encourage them to continue the mobilization, are cited the “unworthy remuneration” of farmers, “unacceptable setbacks for peasant autonomy”, “the ecological emergency” or even the lack of “strong structural measures” concerning breeding.
Véronique Marchesseau, general secretary of the Confédération paysanne, indicated this Thursday evening on BFMTV that the union would “continue its targeted interventions”, particularly against mass distribution.
“We decided to continue them because today’s announcements do not give us long-term prospects for our farms,” she said, criticizing “emergency solutions”.
Véronique Marchesseau (general secretary of the Confédération paysanne): “Today’s announcements do not give us long-term prospects for our farms” pic.twitter.com/9Tolbg4kSm
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) February 1, 2024
Three “red lines” have been crossed, previously estimated by the representative of the 4th agricultural union in France Laurence Marandola: on GMOs, the government having committed to supporting new genomic techniques (NGT), on synthetic meat, that the government wants to better define but not prohibit, and on the question of water, “not a word” having been said “on the preservation and sharing of water”.
Also read: In Île-de-France, farmers ready to leave the roads warn: “The movement is not dead”
The slogan of the FNSEA and the JA was followed in several departments, whose prefectures have reported lifting of barriers, or at the very least reductions, even if occasional blockages persist, according to Matignon.
This Friday in Île-de-France, the CRS system will be maintained in a smaller dimension than in previous days, a police source tells us.