Farming unions call for ‘Christmas truce’ as blockades continue

Protests by French farmers continue today, but a ‘Christmas truce’ has been called for by union leaders.

Protests have continued across France today, particularly in the south-west with motorways including the A20, A62, A9, A89 A63, and A64 blockaded. 

Farmers in the north and east of France are also protesting, blocking roads including A10, A41, and A84.

However, blockades are set to stop over the coming days to prevent disruption at Christmas.

“My wish is for a Christmas truce. We are not here to inconvenience the French people,” said president of the FNSEA union Arnaud Rousseau to FranceInfo today (December 19). 

“The French must be able to travel to see their families peacefully,” said government spokesperson Maud Bregeon to RTL. 

“We will no longer tolerate further blockades and we will do everything necessary,” she said, adding that police officers had been authorised to remove these. 

Protests were initially sparked by orders to cull cow herds suffering from lumpy skin disease, but were then expanded to cover wider discontent in the sector including over the Mercosur trade agreement between the EU and South American trade bloc.

The impact of action by French farmers on the latter has not gone unnoticed, and the EU announced a final vote on the agreement, initially set for today, has been postponed to January 2026. 

Details of ‘truce’ to be announced

While it is not clear exactly when farmers will stop protesting – and when they will start again following the truce – unions are expected to call for a pause.

Mr Rousseau and other leading figures from the Jeunes Agriculteurs, Coordination rurale, and Confédération paysanne met with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu today to seek concessions for farmers over both the Mercosur deal and cow culling orders. 

Exact conditions for the truce from unions will be made clear after the government announced its future plans for farmers, said Mr Rousseau. This is expected in the form of a letter to be sent to unions later today.

However, the unions are not content with all aspects. 

“This is just a reprieve,” said Mr Rousseau regarding the Mercosur deal. 

“The FNSEA's position will remain the same in January: this agreement is not a good agreement.” 

Regardless of union views not all farmers back an end to the movement. 

“We are determined. The government holds all the cards. We have made quite a few proposals to them,” said one farmer to BFMTV. 

“We have no response. We won't budge. They do not realise the seriousness of the situation and our determination.”