While angry farmers began the blockade of Paris on Monday, unconvinced by the first salvo of measures announced by Gabriel Attal last week, the latter promised to be “there” this Tuesday during his speech of general policy in the National Assembly.
“Our agriculture is our strength, and our pride too,” insisted the Prime Minister.
“Not just because it feeds us in the literal sense of the word.
But because it constitutes one of the foundations of our identity, of our traditions,” he underlined.
The Prime Minister promised to respond to the anger of the rural world, without really going into detail.
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While he had announced the removal of the first 10 standards last week, he intends to continue the work to “debureaucratize France”.
“Everywhere in our country, the French tell me how much standards oppress them, restrict them, prevent them from doing and moving forward.
I think of our farmers.
I think of all the little bosses.
I think of our local elected officials, who are drowning in rules and administrative procedures,” he declared, promising that “many other deletions will follow.”
“There must be a French agricultural exception”
“Our agriculture is our strength, and our pride too.
So I say it here solemnly: there must be a French agricultural exception,” added the head of government who says he is “lucid, faced with the pile-up of standards”.
“We will be there.
Without ambiguity,” he promised.
While several demands made by angry farmers are linked to European policy, the Minister of Agriculture, Marc Fesneau, must go to Brussels on Wednesday.