French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said this Sunday that he wants to clarify to farmers what measures can be taken against unfair competition in the sector, which has been the target of demonstrations across France in recent days.
“I want us to clarify the situation and see what additional measures we can take in relation to these stories of unfair competition,” the head of the French government, quoted by Agence France-Presse, said during a visit to an agricultural holding two hours from Paris . .
Addressing farmers, Gabriel Attal acknowledged that “it is not normal when they are prohibited from using certain products” while “neighboring countries, Italy or others” can do so.
During his visit to Parce-Mesle in Indre-et-Loire, two hours south of Paris, his second in three days, he was asked about various aspects of the crisis in the sector, such as falling revenues, low pensions, administrative complexity. , changing standards or foreign competition.
A government official expressed support for farmers and vowed to take further action soon, especially on fallowing, at a time when tensions are rising again.
For days now, French farmers have been using their tractors to block roads and slow down traffic across France, seeking better rewards for their produce, less bureaucracy and protection from imports.
On Friday the government announced a series of measures that farmers say do not fully meet their demands, including a “radical simplification” of some technical procedures and the progressive elimination of taxes on diesel fuel for agricultural machinery.
Some farmers have threatened to concentrate in Paris from Monday to block the main roads leading to the capital.