During a trip to Haute-Garonne, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal promised this Friday, January 26 “ a start » to respond to the farmers’ protest movement.
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“ I came because you wanted to send a message and I came to tell you that the message, we received it five out of five, that I heard you, that we heard you », said the Prime Minister in Montastruc-de-Salies (Haute-Garonne), after days of demonstrations and blockades by farmers. “ We decided to put agriculture above everything else “. “ Today is a startling day “, ” a new chapter that must open for French agriculture, it starts today, and above all, we will write this chapter and build it together », insisted Gabriel Attal.
After denouncing the “ guilty speeches » and criticized “ those who oppose the defense of our farmers and the defense of the environment “, Gabriel Attal acceded to one of the main demands of the demonstrators: the cancellation of the increase, although recorded in the 2024 budget, in the tax on non-road agricultural diesel, which was to increase gradually until 2030. ” We are going to stop with this trajectory of increase in GNR », announced the head of government. For a ” simplification » procedures, he also announced that the tax rebates on this fuel would be deducted upon purchase, and no longer after the fact on proof, “ by summer “.
Another sensitive subject: the proper application of the Egalim laws, which aim to protect the income of farmers in the context of negotiations with manufacturers and supermarkets. “ In the coming days “, the government will ” very heavily sanction three companies which do not respect » these laws, warned Gabriel Attal, who also promised a strengthening of controls and a “ maximum pressure » on the ongoing negotiations between the actors.
“ Shock of simplification »
The head of government also promised a “ shock of simplification » administrative with “ ten immediate simplification measures “. He cited in particular the “ cleaning of agricultural watercourses ” Or ” deadlines for appeals against agricultural projects “. The head of government also hears “ put an end to inconsistencies that benefit no one: neither farmers nor the environment “, as ” on clearing obligations or on hedges “.
Gabriel Attal also announced the increase in compensation to support farms most in difficulty facing epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EMD), a new pathology which weakens cows. He mentioned a “ budget of 50 million euros » and announced a “ increase in compensation rate to 90% » for breeders affected by this disease which appeared in September on farms in the south-west. The government set compensation last week at 80% of the value of dead cows and veterinary costs.
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“ France is very clearly opposed ” has ” Signature » of the controversial trade agreement between the European Union and the Latin American countries of Mercosur, also assured the Prime Minister. “ I repeat it here very clearly, very clearly. The President of the Republic has always opposed it and we continue and will continue to oppose it “, he said. Mercosur and the EU have been negotiating this agreement for years, which stumbles on environmental issues. It is denounced in particular by French farmers, for the risk of unfair competition from South American products.
These announcements come as farmers increase pressure on the executive: access to Paris was disrupted on Friday, and highways still blocked. Snail operations are organized everywhere, in Brittany, Aquitaine, Rhône-Alpes. In Narbonne, a building of the Mutualité sociale agricole (MSA), evacuated as a precaution on Thursday, was set on fire on Friday on the sidelines of a farmers’ demonstration.
During this speech, standing in front of a bale of hay, the head of government increased his gestures of understanding towards farmers. “ We won’t let you go “, ” we are going to fight at the European level to also move the lines “, he concluded.
(With AFP)