On the highways, some farmers threaten to drive towards Brussels, the embodiment in their eyes of meddlesome bureaucracy.
Emmanuel Macron was due to land in the Belgian capital on Wednesday evening, on the eve of an extraordinary European Council.
The head of state took off from Sweden, where he was completing a two-day state visit, after another trip to India last week.
Absorbed by this international agenda, Emmanuel Macron has so far followed the discontent in the countryside from afar, leaving Gabriel Attal on the front line.
This time, the president himself enters the European arena, crucial on agricultural issues.
He is due to meet this Thursday with the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
With particular focus on the hot topic of the Mercosur treaty, which breeders fear will open the doors of Europe wide to South American meat.
Also read: Did Emmanuel Macron really end negotiations on Europe's agreement with Mercosur?
In recent days, Paris has increased pressure on this agreement being negotiated between the Commission and four Latin American countries.
Last weekend, Emmanuel Macron exchanged text messages with Ursula von der Leyen.
In the process, his entourage assured that the negotiations were interrupted.
False, Brussels quickly retorted: discussions continue, even if the conditions
“are not met”
for an agreement, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.
The von der Leyen Commission, which has always pursued a pro-free trade agenda, considers that it must bring the discussions to a conclusion, because it has received a mandate from the member states.
“It is the Commission and the Commission alone which is responsible for the negotiations
,” insisted the institution.
It is then up to States to ratify or not the agreement concluded.
No decisive announcement
The attempt to bypass the Élysée was therefore moderately appreciated in Brussels circles.
Especially since many countries, including Germany and Spain, are in favor of the treaty.
But, in Paris, we assume to stage an opposition repeated Tuesday by Emmanuel Macron, on the grounds of
“rules which are not homogeneous with ours”
.
It’s a
“showdown”
, affirmed Wednesday on Europe 1 the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, showing his muscles:
“When France wants something in Europe, it has enough weight to impose."
In the presidential entourage, it is said that the real objective, by demanding environmental clauses, aims to postpone the discussions indefinitely.
After all, the negotiation of the Mercosur agreement has been going on since 1999... Paris is also counting on the proximity of the European elections in June and the renewal of key EU positions.
Read also: Anger of farmers: Emmanuel Macron's Swedish counter-programming defeated by current events
“Von der Leyen has a central role, but she knows to whom she owes her position
,” whispers a Macronist MP familiar with European affairs.
In 2019, Angela Merkel's former minister was propelled to the head of the Commission following an agreement between the French president and the chancellor.
Unofficial candidate for her own succession this year, she is walking on eggshells between the contradictory demands of Paris and Berlin.
In the meantime, Emmanuel Macron's entourage is not making any decisive announcement during this European summit, primarily devoted to aid to Ukraine.
And prefers to present as French victories the two measures put on the table on Wednesday by the Commission to respond to the discontent of farmers: a
“partial exemption”
on the fallow obligation provided for by the CAP and a mechanism aimed at regulating imports of Ukrainian agricultural products.
“The Commission responded to France's requests, which had been widely supported by other Member States
,” said the Élysée.
The farming community is calling for fewer standards, but at this stage the EU only seems ready for temporary adjustments.