French farmers protested near Paris against the Mercosur trade deal, demanding fairer pay and decrying threats to rural livelihoods, while police blocked their convoys from entering the city.
Farmers from France's second-largest agricultural union, Coordination Rurale, protested near Paris on Monday against the Mercosur trade deal and demanded fairer compensation for their produce.
Their attempts to reach Paris and Lyon were blocked by law enforcement, causing widespread disruptions, according to Le Parisien.
The protests come ahead of a 13th of January meeting with French Prime Minister François Bayrou and elections for agricultural chambers, where the union seeks to challenge the National Federation of Farmers' Unions.
Since Sunday, tractor convoys from across France tried to converge on Paris but were halted by police. Tractors were reported in areas like Rambouillet, Meaux, and the RN4 highway, where even private vehicles faced delays. A convoy from Bourgogne-Franche-Comté attempted alternate routes but was intercepted near Fontenay-Trésigny, creating a "snail operation" that disrupted Monday traffic.
The union voiced frustration over being denied a meeting with Prime Minister Bayrou. Christian Convers, the union’s secretary-general, said they had sought approval for a designated protest site but were ignored.
Read next
02:50
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday called on the European Union to strengthen trust and cooperation with China, saying the two sides should focus on mutual success rather than rivalry.
22:30
The European Commission has announced looser state aid rules to accelerate green industrial projects and offer energy price relief for heavy industries, aiming to keep Europe competitive amid U.S. and Chinese pressure.
20:00
The EU is moving to simplify and unify its space policy with a landmark proposal—the EU Space Act aimed at boosting Europe’s competitiveness in the global space economy and establishing a single, streamlined market for space services.
18:44
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised Türkiye’s diplomatic efforts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, calling for greater international pressure to push Moscow toward peace negotiations.
15:00
Switzerland is taking steps toward deeper defence cooperation with the European Union, launching talks on a non-binding arms partnership while maintaining its neutral stance.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment