The Ministry of the Economy estimates the emergency measures taken in favor of farmers at 400 million euros. After new announcements, this Thursday, February 1, two unions, the FNSEA and the Young Farmers, requested the lifting of the blockages. The mobilization has lasted for ten days, the blockades on the highways for four days. In Jossigny, 40 km east of Paris, the mobilized farmers have packed up their base camp but remain attentive.
2 mins
With our special correspondent in Jossigny, Stéphane Duguet
The white barn which served as a canteen is being removed little by little. “We are in the process of dismantling everything in order to be able to return the highway to traffic.“. Some farmers count the pieces of the marquee before storing them on a trailer. They break camp as requested by the FNSEA and the Young Farmers.
Mistrust
But farmers are wary of the government’s announcements. Bruno Cardot grows cereals in Picardy, in the north of France: “What we want are guaranteed prices and price security. There are a lot of levers, we had some responses in the levers to get prices precisely, but I think that it will not yet be enough.”
They are now waiting for concrete actions. Hugo Halle is also a farmer from the North of France: “Above all, actions must follow words. We know very well that everything cannot be done in five minutes, while knowing that four years ago we had Covid-19, and the government was able to be effective in a very short time, this clearly shows us that When we want we can.»
Results
Farmers are demanding results before the Agricultural Show in three weeks and the European elections in June. Alexis Gauthier grows wheat, beets, potatoes and onions: “If that does not give satisfaction, we will move on to other modes of action. We can renew blockages, go to Brussels, go up to the European level, plus it’s not that far. Also there is the Agricultural Show which will be held, where we can intervene at that time.»
The tone is set! Even without blockages, farmers want to keep up the pressure. Even if they left the Jossigny dam at 8 p.m. Thursday evening.
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